Welding Fume

Health Effects

In 2018 the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified welding fume as a Group 1 carcinogen. They concluded that there is sufficient evidence in humans that welding fume causes lung cancer.

There is no known level of safe exposure to welding fume.

Exposure to welding fume can cause a range of serious health effects. The following respiratory illnesses may be caused by exposure to welding fume:

Acute (short-term) respiratory health effects

• irritation to the throat and larger airways in the lungs
• acute irritant-induced asthma
• metal fume fever (flu-like symptoms)
• acute pneumonia (short-term infection of the lungs)

Chronic (long-term) respiratory health effects

• lung cancer
• chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (progressive shortness of breath, wheezing, coughing and chest tightness)
• welder’s lung (caused by long-term exposure to iron dusts)
• occupational asthma (caused by exposure to certain metals in the welding fume)
• an increased susceptibility to pneumonia (swelling of the tissue in one or both lungs)

There is also a significant risk from asphyxiation (suffocation from lack of oxygen) when welding in confined spaces. This can be caused by exposure to gases produced during welding, as well as shielding gases that are used as part of the welding process.