Some Hazards of Welding Fume

As many welders are already aware, packs of electrodes and bare wires carry a health warning against the dangers of welding fume. What are these dangers and what should welders to to ensure that they have adequate protection? There are all kinds of face masks and respirators on the market. Some are disposable, some made of rubber, others consist of a simple gauze pad, many only protect against large dust particles and provide little protection against the fine particulate of welding fume and the potential health hazards that it presents.