fitzee
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Registered: 12-2004
Location: St John`s NL
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Att: welders!
Saw this on the Hamb and it affects every one of us. Anyone that welds needs to read it. A little long, but important. This isn't my story, just repeating it.
"My dad has been a welder for the last 35 years. I can't say where here in Michigan, but its a large utility company. He welds on underground gas line, he's a pipeline repair welder and has always done VERY well.
Over the last year and a half, he hasn't felt very well. He was having a harder and harder time falling asleep and staying asleep. Then he was having a harder and harder time keeping food down. Then he was having a hard time keeping liquids down. It seemed everything he ate or drink, he threw up. On top of this, at one point he was averaging about a 2 to 5 pound weight loss a week. This was after doctors put him on medication to keep his stomach from being nauseous.
Like I said, this has been going on for a year and a half. He went from being 6' 3" and about 250 pounds down to 180 pounds. And he's still dropping weight all the time.
The doctors ran test after test to determine what was wrong with him, but could never find anything. Meanwhile, he was shriveling up to nothing, and he looked horrible....and he was exhausted all the time.
He finally got a recommendation to see an Environmental Doctor. Within a week, this particular doctor performed the right tests on him to determine what is wrong. He found EXTREMELY high levels of Maganese and Arsenic in his system. All through his blood stream and his liver. The doctor determined the cause of this was welding. More specifically, MIG wire. Apparently, all welding medium has Maganese and Arsenic in it when its burned, or melted. But MIG wire has 2 1/2 times that of stick rod used in ARC welding, or the filler rod used in TIG welding.
This hit home, not just because this is my Dad who is wasting away overnight, but I'm also a welder by trade. The MSDS sheets that are included in ALL welding filler touches base on these facts, but briefly.
Since his appointment with his environmental doctor about 3 months ago, my dad has started getting the shakes......first every once in a while, now its quite often. They came to the conclusion about 4 days agothat he is now showing the early signs of Parkinsons Disease. But its onset is very rapid. They estimate that at this rate, he will have full on Parkinsons within the year. He's 53. Anyone who knows anybody with Parkinsons knows how extremely devastating it is.
He never thought in a million years that what he loved doing was THIS harmful. Neither did his company, or any of the other welders in his department. Since this, they have all been tested, and they ALL show similiar levels of Maganese and Arsenic in their systems. They are all contemplating transfering to another department. Unfortunately, in reality they most likely will all be laid off.
I know this is long winded, and I apologize, but darn near everyone on here owns a MIG welder for their projects. There's a post on here almost every day on which welder to buy, 220 vs. 110, MIG vs. TIG. If you're gonna spend $1000 on a welder, an additional $20 for some safety supplies is a drop in the bucket.
I'm begging all of you who weld....even if its just for a few minutes on a project...and ESPECIALLY if its MIG welding....open the darn garage door, even if its cold out, buy a $10 box fan, and buy a $2 paper filter mask, and use them all. Don't be a stubborn dumbass, because here is a good example of what can happen. Those MSDS sheets we all throw away NEED to be read every once in a while, and thoroughly researched before we intake those chemicals in our bodies.
I REALLY hope everyone here reads this. Maybe we can learn from someones elses experience. Here is the link to the complete thread on the hamb. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=154082
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1/15/2007, 9:40 am
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Chris02SS
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Registered: 07-2006
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Re: Att: welders!
Great post!
I was welding (hobby) a lot this past winter (SMAW and a little GMAW) and the first few nights found I would get headaches and feel sick to my stomach. I put on a mask and never had a problem since. It made a HUGE difference to me. I went through at least 250-300 rods the past few months and never had a problem when I wore the proper respirator.
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1/15/2007, 9:46 am
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