A state of the science review of the potential health hazards associated with asbestos in shielded metal arc welding rods in the United States

Abstract

Due to its unique chemical properties, chrysotile asbestos was historically incorporated into a wide variety of products, including the outer covering, or ''flux'' of certain classifications of general arc mild steel welding electrodes. The purpose of this analysis is to review the historical engineering, toxicology, regulatory, and epidemiology information relevant to asbestos in mild steel welding rods in order to assess whether mild steel welders are at increased risk of developing asbestos-related diseases as a result of welding rod use. We divided our analysis into four distinct time periods, based on what we perceived to be seminal events in welding technology or in the evolution of knowledge regarding asbestos and asbestos-related diseases. These time periods are as follows: late