Manganism or “welders disease” is the name given to a combination of symptoms suffered by workers whose brains have been injured by prolonged exposure to manganese fumes. The condition occurs because too much manganese damages the part of the brain that controls body movements.

Welding rods can contain or be coated with materials such as manganese, zinc, cadmium, chromium, copper, fluoride, lead, and/or vanadium. Any or all of these materials can potentially pose health hazards to those exposed. Manganese is one of the metal fumes released during welding rod use that is known to cause serious injuries.

Manganese is a metal similar to iron, which is naturally found in certain rocks. In very small amounts, manganese is an essential trace mineral used by the human body to metabolize fats and proteins. It also supports the immune system, bone growth, and more. However, this mineral becomes toxic when the body is exposed to dangerous quantities, as is often the case with exposure to welding rod fumes.

While the risks of manganese have been understood since the beginning of the nineteenth century, welding rod manufacturers and employers continue to expose workers to dangerously high levels of manganese through welding rod fumes. If proper precautions are not taken to prevent workplace exposure to manganese and manganese welding rod fumes, the injured party can file a welding rod lawsuit against the rod manufacturer and/or their employer to recover monetary compensation for their injuries and suffering.

Too much manganese, however, can cause serious illness. Although there are some differences between different kinds of manganese, most manganese compounds seem to cause the same effects. Manganese miners or steel workers exposed to high levels of manganese dust in air may have mental and emotional disturbances, and their body movements may become slow and clumsy. This combination of symptoms is a disease called manganism. Workers usually do not develop symptoms of manganism unless they have been exposed for many months or years. Manganism occurs because too much manganese injures a part of the brain that helps control body movements. Some of the symptoms of manganism can be reduced by medical treatment, but the brain injury is permanent. There are reports that patients have developed symptoms several years after exposure to manganese had ceased. Manganism is a permanently disabling disease for which there is no cure.