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Toxic Substances
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Welding Fumes
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WELDING FUMES - Manganese poisoning is just one of the very serious diseases welders are potentially vulnerable to when working in shops, garages, or other areas where they are exposed to the fumes of a welding torch. Manganese is a common element that is necessary in small amounts for healthy bodies and plant life. It can be found in many of the foods we eat and is even sold as a dietary supplement in the vitamin aisle of most health food sections. However, long term exposure causes symptoms very much like idiomatic Parkinson's disease. The condition is often misdiagnosed as Parkinson's or even Lou Gehrig's disease. Manganese can take a long time to build up in the system because while it affects the central nervous system it is mainly caused by a build up in the liver and kidneys. The toxin is largely water soluble and excreted by the body. Over 95% of the accumulated poison is released. The gradual but deadly accumulation of the remaining manganese causes symptoms including tremors which is why it is often mistaken for other neurological diseases.
Welder's disease, or manganese poisoning, is caused by the heat from the process releasing welding rod fumes. These fumes are breathed in and the toxin is released into the system. While welders are the primary person's at risk, people living in the vicinity of large factories and steel mills, where large amounts of welding can release high levels of manganese into the air and ground water sources, are also at risk.
While treatment for welder's disease is available, it is usually short-lived and the response to treatments with drugs such as levodopa and chelation are diminished after only a few years. Chelation is used to increase the excretion of the poison from the system, but it does not help alleviate the symptoms. Levodopa helps to lessen the tremors associated with the disease, but the body builds up a resistance to the drug. The patient often steadily deteriorates and even after as much as 10 years from the time of the last exposure, further worsening is often noted.
If you or a loved one have been exposed to welding fumes and show symptoms of manganese poisoning it is important to contact a lawyer immediately. You deserve the best medical care, and help paying the expenses related to a catastrophic illness. In many cases, it will become impossible for the patient suffering from manganese poisoning to hold a job, but an experienced attorney will be able to get you fair compensation so that you and your family do not have to suffer financial disaster as well. If you think you or a loved one have been exposed to welding rod fumes and as a result developed welder's disease, please fill out the form on this page for a free evaluation of your case.
Keywords: Manganese Poisoning Lawyer | Welder's Disease Attorney | Welding Rod Fumes Lawsuit
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