The　International　Agency　for　Research　on　Cancer　(IARC)　of　World　Health　Organization　(WHO)　has　classified　welding　fumes　as　a　Group　1　carcinogen　to　humans.　To　further　understand　the　rules　of　welding　fume　generation,　transmission　and　harm　to　human　body,　this　paper　reviewed　the　research　progress　on　the　welding　fumes　generation　and　transmission　characteristics　of　welding　fumes　and　its　effect　on　respiratory　system.　The　effects　of　welding　processes　and　coating　composition　of　welding　consumables　on　the　characteristics　of　welding　fumes　were　summarized.　The　influence　of　diffusion　distance　on　the　distribution　of　welding　fumes　was　emphatically　summarized.　The　effects　of　size　and　concentration　on　the　deposition　of　welding　fumes　particles　were　analyzed　in　detail.　Results　show　that　the　welding　fumes　rate　and　particle　size　of　inert　gas　shielded　welding　are　larger　while　tungsten　gas　shielded　welding　is　opposite.　Micro-nano　coating　on　the　surface　of　welding　consumables　can　reduce　welding　fumes　formation　rate.　With　the　increase　of　the　diffusion　distance,　the　concentration　of　welding　fumes　decreases　and　the　proportion　of　micro-nano　particles　increases.　When　the　particle　size　of　welding　fumes　is　less　than　2　μm,　the　particles　can　be　deposited　directly　in　the　alveoli,　and　when　the　particle　size　reaches　the　nanometer　level,　it　can　enter　the　blood　circulatory　system,　thereby　affecting　people＇s　physical　and　mental　health.　©　2023　Beijing　University　of　Technology.　All　rights　reserved.