Metal fume fever Information

Metal fume fever Information

Metal fume fever is an occupational disease caused by inhalation of particles and fumes of metallic oxides and characterized by malarialike symptoms. Metal Fume Fever is the name for an illness
that is caused primarily by exposure to zinc oxide fume (ZnO) in the workplace. The main cause of this exposure is usually breathing the fumes from welding, cutting, or brazing on galvanized metal. Metal Fume Fever is an acute allergic condition experienced by many welders during their occupational lifetimes. Studies indicate that the most common cause of metal fume fever is overexposure to zinc fumes from welding, burning, or brazing galvanized steel. Since galvanized steel is more and more common in industry, the chances of welders having to work on it are occurring more frequently all the time. Other elements, such as copper and magnesium, may cause similar effects.

EFFECTS OF OVEREXPOSURE in Metal fume fever

Zinc oxide fumes cause a flu–like illness called Metal Fume Fever. Symptoms of Metal Fume Fever include headache, fever, chills, muscle aches, thirst, nausea, vomiting, chest soreness, fatigue, gastrointestinal pain, weakness, and tiredness. The symptoms
usually start several hours after exposure; the attack may last 6 to 24 hours. Complete recovery generally occurs without intervention within 24 to 48 hours.

Metal Fume Fever is more likely to occur after a period away from the job (after weekends or vacations). High levels of exposure may cause a metallic or sweet taste in the mouth, dry and irritated throat, thirst, and coughing at the time of the exposure. Several hours after exposure, a low–grade fever (seldom higher than 102
F or 39
C).

HOW TO AVOID THE HAZARD of Metal Fume Fever

1. Keep your head out of the fumes.
2. Do not breathe fumes.
3. Use enough ventilation, exhaust at the arc,
   or both, to keep fumes and gases from your
   breathing zone and the general area.
4. If adequacy of the ventilation or exhaust is
   uncertain, have your exposure measured
   and compared to the Threshold Limit
   Values (TLV) in the Material Safety Data
   Sheet (MSDS) for the galvanized material.
5. Never take chances with welding fumes. If
   none of this is adequate or practical, wear
   an approved respirator, air–supplied or
   otherwise, that adequately removes the
   fumes from your breathing zone.