How to protect your lungs?

[Eric1]

Hi guys.
Just wondering what precautions yous take to protect your lungs from welding fumes ?
What do you do to combat working with these fumes all day?

 

[rtbcomp]

I do my welding outside. If this isn't possible then fume extraction systems are used.

 

[Robotstar5]

Ideally use an extractor or an air flow mask

 

[Eric1]

Ideally use an extractor or an air flow mask

How effective are the air-flow masks ?

 

[astro_al]

Very.

 

[mike os]

clean metal & good ventilation takes care of 95% of my use... the rest is outside or a decent fan

 

[xboxjoner]

I use an adflo system with a speedglas helmet, would recommend it to anyone who is welding for a living

 

[tigler]

Aren't Aluminium welding fumes toxic in some way ?

 

[strada]

Air flow masks are great while your welding,the problem is,when you take the mask off to do some measuring etc and the guy in the next bay is welding/grinding you tend to get his fumes drifting over.
This is a problem we used to have at an ex employers,They decided to get a new extraction set up it was basicly a flexible tube which went over your gun and sucked the fumes up as soon as you started to weld,They also were fitted on the grinders to get rid of most of the fine dust.this coupled with the airflow mask was exellent.

 

[Engineer1964]

Aren't Aluminium welding fumes toxic in some way ?

I found some in fo below,,

Generally, welding fumes and gases come from the base material or filler material; paints and coatings on the metal and covering the electrode; shielding gases; chemical reactions from arc ultraviolet light and heat; process and consumables; and contaminants in the air, such as vapors from cleaners and degreasers.

The fact sheet also stated that the health effects of gas and fume exposure are difficult to list because the fumes may contain so many different substances that are known to be harmful. However, individual components of welding smoke can affect almost any part of the body, including the lungs, heart, kidneys and central nervous system.

Welders who smoke may be at greater risk of health impairment than welders who do not smoke, although all welders are at risk.

Short-term Effects

Among the short-term effects is metal fume fever, symptoms of which occur four to 12 hours after exposure and include chills, thirst, fever, muscle ache, chest soreness, coughing, wheezing, fatigue, nausea, and a metallic taste.

Welding smoke also can irritate the eyes, nose, chest, and respiratory tract and cause coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, bronchitis, pulmonary edema (fluid in the lungs), and pneumonitis (inflammation of the lungs). Gastrointestinal effects, such as nausea, appetite loss, vomiting, cramps, and slow digestion, also have been associated with welding smoke.

Some welding fume components and welding processes can be especially dangerous in a short period of time. Cadmium in welding fumes can be fatal in a short time. Ultraviolet radiation given off by welding reacts with oxygen and nitrogen in the air to form ozone and nitrogen oxides, which are deadly at high doses, irritate the nose and throat, and cause serious lung disease.

Ultraviolet rays can react with chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents, such as trichloroethylene; 1,1,1,-trichloroethane; methylene chloride, and perchloroethylene, to form phosgene gas, a deadly substance, even at small amounts. The symptoms of exposure, dizziness, chills, and cough usually take five or six hours to appear. Arc welding should never be performed within 200 ft. of degreasing equipment or solvents.

Long-term Effects

Studies show that welders and those involved in brazing, soldering, and metal cutting have an increased risk of lung cancer and possible larynx and urinary tract cancer. According to the AFSCME fact sheet, these findings are not surprising in view of the large quantity of toxic substances in welding smoke, including cancer-causing agents such as cadmium, nickel, beryllium, chromium, and arsenic.

Welders also may have chronic respiratory problems, including bronchitis, asthma, pneumonia, emphysema, pneumoconiosis (dust-related diseases, decreased lung capacity, silicosis [caused by silica exposure], and siderosis (a dust-related disease caused by iron oxide dust in the lungs).

Other health problems that appear to be related to welding include heart disease; skin diseases; hearing loss; chronic gastritis (stomach inflammation); gastroduodenitis (stomach and small intestine inflammation); and stomach and small intestine ulcers.

Welding also poses reproductive risks. Studies have shown that welders, especially those who work with stainless steel, have poorer sperm quality than men in other work. Studies also have shown an increase in either miscarriages or delayed conception among welders and their spouses.

Welders who weld or cut surfaces covered with asbestos insulation are at risk of asbestosis, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and other asbestos-related diseases. Employees should be trained and provided with proper equipment before welding near asbestos-containing material.

A good mast, and lev or natuaral ventilation is paramount

 

[Welderpaul]

Air fed mask, doors open and big fans on.
Like an idiot, i got that involved yesterday, i wasnt wearing my air pack. Had a very tight chest last night, breathless, weezing and tired. Welding dirty plate all day.

Check out how dirty the filter material becomes on an air fed pack after 1 day welding...that's the rubbish you would have breathed in.

Still not 100% now.

 

[Welderpaul]

This is the state of me filter after todays sesh. Both filters were brand new this morning.
Hate to think what nastys lurk in there.

 

[Ausman]

That is one scary picture, Welderpaul.
I always use a disposable mask when I think I will be grinding or welding for longer than a few minutes. Most of my welding and grinding is carried out in the open, mostly on site. Even still, some of the crap we breath in is very toxic.