1. Risk Management Panel Meeting
March 12-14, 2019
Charleston, SC
Approved for Distribution A

2. IARC MONOGRAPHS ON THE EVALUATION OF CARCINOGENIC RISKS TO HUMANS
WELDING, MOLYBDENUM TRIOXIDE,
AND INDIUM TIN OXIDE
Daniel O. Chute, CIH, CSP BSI EHS Services And Solutions East Inc.
Reston, Virginia

3. AIHA states in the September 2018 issue of The Synergist that “welding fumes cause lung cancer”..

4. The Synergist based it’s conclusions on a 2018 Monograph produced by IARC.
IARC – International Agency Research on Cancer –a specialized cancer agency of the World Health Organization.
In March 2017, seventeen scientists from ten countries met at the International Agency for Research on Cancer in Lyon, France to evaluate the carcinogenicity of welding, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide.
IARC review of literatures linked welding, molybdenum trioxide, and indium tin oxide to certain cancers.

5. IARC Monograph process starts with a working group
17 scientists from 10 countries
International Experts
Selection of agents for review:
Agents are selected for review on the basis of two main criteria:
There is evidence of human exposure and
There is some evidence or suspicion of carcinogenicity.

6. Population-based cohort studies on cancer and welding or exposure to welding fumes
Location
Cohort study reviewed
Exposure category
Cancer type
Enrolment
Follow-up period
Zutphen, Netherlands
1986
Welding fumes/soldering fumes
Lung
Prostrate UK
Welder
Europe
1992
2000
Welder, in welding shop
USA
USA – OH
USA – Tenn.
1970
1943
1987
1974
Shipyard, welding fume
1097 deaths from lung cancer
231 deaths from lung cancer
Lung, Brain, Leukemia
Canada
1991
2011
Shipbuilding/repair
Occasional welder
Lung; kidney, urinary bladder; eye melanoma, mesothelioma
Page 113 – 145

7. IARC Findings & Exposure limit values
Agents
Organ site/type of cancer
Source
Welding Fumes
Lung; Kidney; Urinary bladder; Prostate;
Mesothelioma
Welding – Arc, gas
UV radiation
Ocular melanoma
Arc from welding guns
Molybdenum trioxide
No data available for human but causes lung tumor in experimental animal animals
Country
Welding fumes limit value (8-TWA)
Generally
5 mg/m3
China
4mg/m3
Netherlands
1mg/m3
USA, UK, Germany
Use limits for specific metals in welding fumes or respirable dust
Page 64

8. Exposure limit values - USA
Country
Specific metals in welding fumes/respirable dust
USA
Iron
Chromium
Copper
Nickel
Manganese
Aluminum
Titanium
Molybdenum
Zinc
Beryllium
Welding Fumes
Page 50; 272

9. Questions for US Shipyard Welding
How does work described in IARC report compare to current welding process in US shipyard welding?
What potential cancer risks have been identified in the IARC report?
What welding work is most likely to create welding fume exposures at or above levels of concern?
What air monitoring and testing methods are recommended for further evaluation?
What existing training, process control and protective measures are shown to be effective for elimination or reduction of these potential hazards?