Welders in Australia face serious health problems from inhaling a high level of dangerous fumes, a new study says, but an industry body says workers are already aware of the issue.

Approximately 90 per cent of welders are being exposed to a mixture of carcinogenic particles and gases called “welding fumes”, according to a survey by Curtin University, and three quarters (76 per cent) are inhaling them at a “high level”.

But Geoff Crittenden, chief executive of industry body Weld Australia, told AAP the organisation is already aware of the health issues and has been working on it nationally “for over 30 years”.

“(The study) doesn’t add anything either to the body of knowledge that has been researched globally or what we do in Australia,” he said.

“We’re fully aware of the dangers of fumes.”

The study revealed two thirds or 66.2 per cent of workers weld in restricted spaces and 86.3 per cent weld while leaning over a work site.

Just under a fifth, or 18.9 per cent, say they use a welding booth or exhaust hood.

But Crittenden said he didn’t know anybody in Australia who would work in a confined space without protection, saying: “It would just be totally against the law and you’d have to be pretty stupid to do it.”