Lawsuit asserts a link between welding fumes and neurological problems

By Holly Fleming

Published on June 15, 2006

The plaintiff in the lawsuit is Ernest G. Solis, 57, a former welder living in Corpus Christi, Texas. He is experiencing arm tremors and other movement problems he believes could be Parkinson's disease. Solis is seeking damages from four welding rod manufacturers.

This is the first trial among approximately 3,800 lawsuits around the U.S. that were combined in federal court in Cleveland. The Solis case could set the precedent for the other lawsuits.

The central issue is whether high exposures of manganese (a chemical element found in vitamins, tea, grain, nuts—and fumes from burning welding rods) can result in shaking, poor balance, and difficulty walking and swallowing.

Companies that manufacture the welding rods claim that a link between the fumes and Parkinson's disease has not been established. The companies also claim that warning labels and safety equipment minimize risk.

Parkinson's disease affects nearly 1 million people in the U.S. The Parkinson's Disease Foundation states that welding fumes are just one of the suspected but unproven causes of the disorder.

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