PA welders: Parkinson's Disease and Your Legal Rights

Recent studies have shown that some welders who were exposed to fumes omitted from welding rods have now developed Parkinsonism or Manganism, a neurological disease with symptoms similar to those found in Parkinson's Disease.

Parkinsonism can be brought on by toxins such as manganese (Mn) - a metallic chemical agent. While a small amount of manganese is needed daily to maintain your health, too much manganese can lead to serious health disorders such as Parkinsonism. Elevated levels of manganese emitted from the welding rods may contribute to the occurrence of Parkinsonism.

Symptoms of Parkinsonism and Parkinson's Disease

Parkinsonism belongs to a group of disorders called motor system disorders. The disease is defined by the U.S. National Library of Medicine as "any condition that causes any combination of the types of movement abnormalities seen in Parkinson's disease by damaging or destroying dopamine neurons in a certain area of the brain." The disorder affects nerve cells in the part of the brain that controls muscle movement. Parkinsonism is characterized by four symptoms: tremor, rigidity, postural instability, and slowness of movement, also called bradykinesia.

Symptoms may include:

Parkinson's Disease and Parkinsonism are progressive diseases. This means that the symptoms get worse with time.

Illinois Welding Rod Verdict

In October 2003, a former welder was awarded a $1 million verdict in an Illinois trial. His lawyers argued that his early onset of Parkinson's disease was the result of continued exposure to fumes generating manganese.

Although his research is unpublished, Dr. Paul Nausieda, medical director of the Regional Parkinson Center at St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee, has conducted research which may show a connection between inhaling manganese and Parkinson's Disease. Dr. Nausieda testified that he studied rates of Parkinson's disease among 20,000 workers exposed to welding fumes to rates among the general population. He maintained that 10% of the "welding population" developed signs of, or symptoms similar to, Parkinson's Disease compared to 1% among the general population.

The welding industry denies any cover-up involving the health risks from welding fumes and also denies any cause and effect relationship between exposure to manganese and Parkinsonism.

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If you don't have an attorney to help you with your injury claim, the deck is stacked against you. It is important to know your legal rights if you are injured at work. The law firm of Edgar Snyder & Associates has been helping injured Pennsylvania workers for over 15 years. Let us put this experience to work for you.

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