Why is proper ventilation essential when welding?

Proper ventilation is essential when welding to remove hazardous fumes and gases from the welder's breathing zone and the general work area. Welding processes produce fumes containing metallic oxides, silicates, and fluorides, which are generated from the base metal, filler metal, and welding electrodes. These fumes can cause various health problems, ranging from short-term irritation to long-term chronic illnesses. Inhaling welding fumes can lead to metal fume fever, a flu-like illness characterized by fever, chills, nausea, and muscle aches. Prolonged exposure to welding fumes can cause more severe health issues, including lung cancer, respiratory diseases such as bronchitis and asthma, and neurological damage. Some welding processes also produce hazardous gases, such as ozone, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide, which can be toxic or asphyxiating. Proper ventilation systems, such as local exhaust ventilation (LEV) or general ventilation, capture and remove these fumes and gases before they can be inhaled. Local exhaust ventilation, which includes fume extraction arms and welding booths, is the most effective method for controlling welding fumes because it captures them at the source. General ventilation dilutes the fumes and gases in the air, but it is less effective than LEV. When welding in confined spaces, ventilation is especially critical to prevent the build-up of hazardous fumes and gases. For instance, welding galvanized steel releases zinc oxide fumes, which can cause metal fume fever. Without proper ventilation, the welder is at a significant risk of inhaling these harmful substances.