Welding

How does welding cause cancer?

Cancer risks in welding

There are many different welding techniques, but most fall into the categories of electric arc welding or oxy-fuel welding.

Welding activities produce many hazards through the production of contaminants in welding fumes and ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the welding arc. For example, exposure to welding fumes can increase your risk of developing lung cancer, while UV radiation can cause melanoma of the eye. Both of these agents are Group 1 carcinogens, meaning they can cause cancer in humans.

Your cancer risk from welding is directly related to the amount of exposure to welding fumes or UV light from welding. This means the risk is affected by factors such as the:

• type of welding process used
• use of ventilation controls
• personal protective equipment worn
• length of time welding.

Airborne contaminants

Welding fume is made when a metal is heated above its boiling point. The metal cools and then condenses into fume (fine particles that can be breathed in).

Some welding fumes are easy to see but many are invisible. In 2017, all types of welding fumes were classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In addition to cancer, exposure to welding fumes can cause other health issues, such as metal fume fever, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, and neurological effects.

Table 1 shows some common welding fume types and the metals that can cause these fumes.

Table 1. Common welding fume types and their sources

Figure 1. Can you use a welding process that makes less fume?

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation

When welding, you can be exposed to high levels of UV radiation, a known carcinogen. The UV radiation is produced by the arc or laser and can be reflected off hard and smooth surfaces around you. Exposure can cause melanoma of the eye, ‘welder’s flash’ or ‘arc eye’ (painful inflammation of the cornea), cataracts (clouding on the lens of the eye), and burns to exposed skin.

The risk of cancer due to UV radiation from welding is affected by factors such as:

• the type of welding (electric arc or laser welding)
• intensity of the radiation
• how long you are exposed to the radiation
• the distance you are from the welding activity
• if you are wearing appropriate eye protection and clothing.

Effective controls

All Australian workplaces must follow work health and safety laws. These vary slightly between states and territories, but the duty of care for employers and responsibilities of workers across Australia is similar:

• employers are required to ensure the health and safety of their workers and others at their workplace
• employers have a duty to control the risks associated with work
• workers must take care of their own health and safety
• workers must not negatively affect the health and safety of other people
• workers must follow any reasonable instruction and workplace health and safety policies
• workers should always be involved in the risk management process to correctly identify hazards and use control measures that suit the workplace.

You should eliminate or reduce exposure to hazards by following the risk management process and using the hierarchy of control (Figure 2). If suitable control measures are not in place, welders and people working near welding activities have an increased risk of being exposed to carcinogens.

Safe Work Australia's Model Code of Practice: Welding Processes explains how employers and workers can control welding hazards to minimise exposure to contaminants in the air and radiation. The Fume Minimisation Guidelines from Weld Australia also contain further information about controlling airborne contaminants. A summary of recommended controls is outlined in Table 2.

Figure 2. Hierarchy of control

Air monitoring

Air monitoring in the breathing zone of the welder can be used to check if welding contaminants are being reduced by the controls. An occupational hygienist can help with air monitoring.

In Australia, employers must ensure that workers and others at the workplace are not exposed to levels of airborne contaminants above the workplace exposure standards. The workplace exposure standard for welding fumes not otherwise classified (NOC) is 1mg/m³ averaged over an eight-hour day. In addition, there are also workplace exposure standards for some individual components of welding fumes, such as beryllium, cadmium, chromium VI, and nickel. Employers must ensure that no person at the workplace is exposed to levels above the workplace exposure standard for both welding fumes NOC and the individual components of welding fumes. Further information can be found at Safe Work Australia’s airborne contaminants hub.

Health monitoring

Health monitoring identifies workers who have an increased risk of developing a work-related disease. Health monitoring may be required by law. Further help on these requirements is available from your state and territory work health and safety regulator. If control methods are not in place, health monitoring may be required under work health and safety legislation.

For any concerns related to control measures at your workplace, contact:

• your workplace supervisor or management (if you are an employee)
• your workplace health and safety representative or Union representative
• state and territory work health and safety regulators
• Safe Work Australia

Table 2. Summary of control measures for welding

How do I detect cancer early and reduce my cancer risk?

The best way to reduce your cancer risk is to limit your exposure to known carcinogens. If you are concerned about your health, it is important to speak with your doctor or health professional. To find out what you can do to create a workplace that supports healthy choices and helps reduce cancer risk, contact Cancer Council 13 11 20.

Where can I get reliable information?

Other useful websites

Sources

• International Agency for Research on Cancer. Welding, Molybdenum Trioxide, and Indium Tin Oxide, in IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 2018, IARC World Health Organisation: Lyon, France.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer. Chromium, Nickel and Welding, in IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 1990, IARC World Health Organisation: Lyon, France.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer. Radiation, in IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 2012, IARC World Health Organisation: Lyon, France.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer. Cadmium and Cadmium Compounds, in IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 2012, IARC World Health Organisation: Lyon, France.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer. Chromium (VI) Compounds, in IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 2012, IARC World Health Organisation: Lyon, France.
• International Agency for Research on Cancer. Nickel and Nickel Compounds, in IARC Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risks to Humans. 2012, IARC World Health Organisation: Lyon: France.
• Holly, E.A., et al. Intraocular Melanoma Linked to Occupations and Chemical Exposures. Epidemiology. 1996. 7(1): p. 55-61.
• Gunnel, P., et al. Occupational risk factors, ultraviolet radiation, and ocular melanoma: a case-control study in France. Cancer Causes & Control. 12(5): p. 451-459.
• Vajdic, C.M., et al. Sun exposure predicts risk of ocular melanoma in Australia. International Journal of Cancer, 2002. 101(2): p. 175-182.
• Tenkate, T. Optical radiation hazards of welding arcs. Rev Environ Health, 1998. 13(3): p. 131-146.
• Kendzia, B., et al. Welding and Lung Cancer in a Pooled Analysis of Case-Control Studies. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2013. 178(10): p. 1513-1525.
• Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety. OSH Answers Fact Sheets: Welding – Fumes and Gases. 2014, Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety: Ontario, Canada.
• Safe Work Australia. Welding Processes – Code of Practice 2020. Safe Work Australia: Canberra, ACT.
• Health and Safety Executive. Welding fume – Reducing the risk. Merseyside. 2015, Health and Safety Executive: Merseyside, UK.
• Anthony J Dixon, Brian F Dixon. Ultraviolet radiation from welding and possible risk of skin and ocular malignancy. Medical Journal of Australia, 2004. 181(3): p. 155-7.
• Australian Radiation and Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency. Radiation Protection Standard for Occupational Exposure to Ultraviolet Radiation. 2006, ARPANSA: Canberra, ACT.