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rebekah,
in regard to the first fraction of your topic may I recommend to having firstly a view on this wonderful thread already been carried out on the forum?
http://www.aws.org/cgi-bin/mwf/topic_show.pl?tid=11141I am nearly certain there might - for the first - the one or the other good information be to find...
In regard to the second fraction of your topic (respirators for aluminum welding) here' s my humble contribution.
Independently of which process is being used for aluminum-welding (GMAW creates in higher ranges of welding-performance also higher amounts of fumes containing metallic-aluminum), basically it is proven that aluminum is not comparable to other metals which are - within specific limits (trace elements) - soluable by, and in some cases even necessary for the human body.
Aluminum is not being removed when once being stored within the human body and can - as far as I know by having read a medical investigation on Aluminum Welders many years ago - reach higher concentrations in the human brain and having been suspected for - in worst case and having been an assumption (!!) - causing Alzheimers desease. But - as mentioned - it is years ago when I have been interested in this matter and perhaps there have been stated new results meanwhile, and "proving" other facts (as often to be observed in the field of medical sciences).
Well, thanks God I am no physician but what I can confirm is, that one of the most known German Automotive Companies does oblige their Aluminum MIG-Welders to use respirators for their healthy safety. They will know why and this proves to me they know their welders worth and... they show their awareness of being responsible with their welders.
Regards,
Stephan