![]() ![]() This re-evaluation was recommended in light of newer epidemiological evidence of increased cancer risk broadly among welders, and not only among stainless steel welders, ,, ,. In 2014, an IARC advisory group identified welding and welding fumes as a high priority for re-evaluation. However, despite some epidemiological evidence and proposed biological plausibility, there were insufficient data for welding fumes as a whole to establish a causal link. A convincing body of evidence has recognized an elevated risk of lung cancer among welders, with the excess estimated at 20–40%. In addition to nickel and chromium exposure, common in stainless steel welding, welders are potentially exposed to hazardous agents including iron and manganese, common in mild steel welding, and known carcinogens including aluminum, cadmium, silica, lead, UV radiation, and asbestos. ![]() However, an increasing body of evidence has also suggested a risk among welders who work with materials other than stainless steel, ,, indicating additional or alternate sources of carcinogenicity. Several studies have corroborated the excess risk among stainless steel welders. ![]() Stainless steel welding fumes contain high levels of nickel and chromium VI compounds, which are established human lung carcinogens. Contemporary epidemiological evidence points to an increased lung cancer risk, particularly among stainless steel welders. Įxcess cancer risk among welders has been reported in several cohort, , and case–control, ,, , studies and in meta-analyses,. Nearly two decades after the initial IARC evaluation and the publication of numerous studies exploring cancer risks associated with welding and welding fumes, there remain questions regarding the specific sources of excess risk, variations across welding processes, and types of metals and materials involved,. ![]() Welding has been classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans based on an evaluation of the human, animal, and mechanistic evidence for welding fumes conducted by the IARC. With > 30 types of welding, welders use a wide variety of different processes under a broad range of conditions, leading to challenges in quantifying exposures and evaluating health outcomes for welders overall. There are > 3 million workers worldwide whose primary occupation is welding, and many more who perform welding as part of their work activities. ![]()
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