In July 2004, the AWS Safety and Health Committee engaged an outside independent expert, Woodhall Stopford MD, MSPH, of the Duke University Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, to review the literature of published articles related to the neurotoxicology of manganese, particularly including manganese found in welding fume.
The Committee’s intention was to obtain an objective appraisal of the relevant literature by an authoritative expert, and to receive a written report that would reflect the expert’s own views independent of those of AWS, the Safety and Health Committee, any Committee member, or any organization or person with a direct interest in welding matters. The Committee’s plan from the outset was that it would promptly make Dr. Stopford’s report part of the public record whatever its conclusions, and regardless of whether the Committee, or any Committee member, would or would not ultimately agree with all of the conclusions or with any of Dr. Stopford’s specific findings or stated views. Dr. Stopford has now completed his report which finds:
- Parkinson’s Disease and manganism are separate and distinct illnesses.
- Published research shows that exposures associated with manganism have occurred primarily in nonwelding occupations such as the mining and manganese alloy fabrication industries.
- Studies have not supported that welders have a higher incidence of Parkinson’s Disease compared to the general public or that welding is a risk factor for Parkinson’s Disease.
- Studies have not supported that welders have a higher incidence of an earlier onset of Parkinson’s Disease compared to the general public.
- Studies of Parkinson’s Disease patients have not supported a relationship between welding and Parkinson’s Disease.
Click Here (pdf) to download the full report.
