Welder with Parkinson's Disease Gets $1 Million Verdict

Illinois Welding Rod Verdict

In October 2003, a former welder was awarded a $1 million verdict in an Illinois trial. His lawyers argued that his early onset of Parkinson's disease was the result of continued exposure to fumes generating manganese.

Although his research is unpublished, Dr. Paul Nausieda, medical director of the Regional Parkinson Center at St. Joseph's Hospital in Milwaukee, has conducted research which may show a connection between inhaling manganese and Parkinson's Disease. Dr. Nausieda testified that he studied rates of Parkinson's disease among 20,000 workers exposed to welding fumes to rates among the general population. He maintained that 10% of the "welding population" developed signs of, or symptoms similar to, Parkinson's Disease compared to 1% among the general population.

The welding industry denies any cover-up involving the health risks from welding fumes and also denies any cause and effect relationship between exposure to manganese and Parkinsonism.

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