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Ultraviolet radiation from welding and possible risk of skin and ocular malignancy
Author(s) -
Dixon Anthony J,
Dixon Brian F
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2004.tb06207.x
Subject(s) - skin cancer , ultraviolet radiation , welding , medicine , incidence (geometry) , population , dermatology , environmental health , cancer , materials science , optics , metallurgy , chemistry , physics , radiochemistry
Arc welding produces the full spectrum of ultraviolet radiation (UVR). It is possible that welders are at greater risk of developing skin cancer than the general population, but there is a dearth of well designed studies in this area. The only major study of the relationship between arc welding and skin cancer risk did not reveal an increased incidence of skin cancer in welders. As the welders examined were all well protected and the length‐of‐exposure period was limited, the findings cannot be generalised to all welders. Studies have demonstrated that welding increases the risk of ocular melanoma. Just as we urge the public to protect themselves from UVR, we need to consider similar advice for arc welders.