Welding fumes 'cause Parkinson's-like brain damage'

Welding fumes could cause brain injury similar to that seen in Parkinson's disease, research has indicated.

Exposure to welding fumes causes brain damage in the same region of the brain that is affected in Parkinson's, according to research published in journal Neurology.

"While these changes in the brain and dopamine dysfunction may be an early marker of neuron death related to welding exposure, the damage appeared to be different from those of people with full-fledged Parkinson's disease," explained Brad A Racette from the Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis.

Mr Racette added that brain changes in welders were also seen to be consistent with manganese deposits.

This follows reports by scientists from the University of Utah which said Parkinson's disease elevates the risk of prostate cancer, which applies to the close and distant family of people with the neurodegenerative disease as well as the patients themselves.

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