Metal fume fever

Metal fume fever
SpecialtyEmergency medicine Edit this on Wikidata

Metal fume fever, also known as brass founders' ague, brass shakes,[1] zinc shakes, galvie flu, galvo poisoning, metal dust fever, welding shivers, or Monday morning fever,[2] is an illness primarily caused by exposure to chemicals such as zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminium oxide (Al2O3), or magnesium oxide (MgO) which are produced as byproducts in the fumes that result when certain metals are heated. Other common sources are fuming silver, gold, platinum,[3] and chromium.[4]

Welders are routinely exposed to fumes. The most common form of exposure among welders occurs when welding galvanized steel, of which zinc is the primary component of the galvanization process. Galvanized metal must be thoroughly cleaned using an abrasive or chemical means to remove the galvanized coating before welding or burning. Brazing and soldering can also cause metal poisoning due to exposure to lead, zinc, copper, or cadmium.[5] In extreme cases, cadmium[6] (present in some older silver solder alloys) can cause loss of consciousness.

  1. ^ Chastain, Steve (2004). Metal Casting: A Sand Casting Manual for the Small Foundry. Stephen Chastain. p. 8. ISBN 0-9702203-2-4.
  2. ^ Kaye, P; Young, H; O'Sullivan, I (2002). "Metal fume fever: A case report and review of the literature". Emergency Medicine Journal. 19 (3): 268–9. doi:10.1136/emj.19.3.268. PMC 1725877. PMID 11971851.
  3. ^ El-Zein, M; Malo, J. L; Infante-Rivard, C; Gautrin, D (2003). "Prevalence and association of welding related systemic and respiratory symptoms in welders". Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 60 (9): 655–61. doi:10.1136/oem.60.9.655. PMC 1740619. PMID 12937186.
  4. ^ "Chromium and you" (PDF). Health and Safety Executive. 2013.
  5. ^ "Welding, Cutting, Brazing | Environmental Health & Safety - The University of Alabama". ehs.ua.edu. Retrieved 2016-06-14.
  6. ^ "Cadmium and you - working with Cadmium - are you at risk?" (PDF). Health and Safety Executive. 2010.