Gene Kearns wrote:

On Wed, 22 Jun 2005 12:04:23 GMT, Brian Whatcott
wrote:

Zinc narcosis is noted by welders who join galvanized steel.
The vapor induces a vivid headache which remits in a day or two. Then
there are the serious side-effects....

This kind of headache IME is usually due to carbon monoxide or some
specific chemicals rather than a metal fume exposure.

BTW, zinc would not be a vapor (and neither would carbon monoxide).
A vapor is the gaseous state of something that is normally liquid or
solid. A fume is a small metal particle - small enough to be breathed
down into the lungs. When the metal is liquidized and vaporized,
tiny particles condense back into the metallic state almost
immediately - in order for them to stay as a vapor it would have to be
extremely hot - much to hot for humans to withstand.

Oh.... BS. Metal fume fever's symptoms are widely understood.... such
as a headache and flu-like symptoms.... certainly not something to be

Agree - it's called metal fume fever because it is kind of like a 24
hour flu. Symptoms 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.

knowingly and willfully undertaken. However, this is normally
associated with extremely elevated temperatures in a welding
environment and the consequent ingestion of zinc oxide.

The only serious side effect that occasionally happens (and it
probably would not do so in this instance) is an occupational asthma
where the person afflicted would have breathing difficulties in any
area where galvanizing work was being done. It usually occurs with
repeated exposure, so as I said, it is probably not going to be a
problem here. If the person doing the work isn't earning their living
as a welder, then if it does occur, they can usually just stop doing
that and go back to paying for the zincs.

A bi-yearly casting of zinc is sure to cause no lasting effects... and
IMHO, unlikely to cause any temporary effects as well....

Temperatures no higher than absolutely necessary and casting in open
air make the side effects fairly remote.

There are no lasting "serious side effects..." that have been
documented.


References:
http://www.aws.org/technical/facts/FACT-25.PDF

RosalieAnn Figge Beasley, C.I.H.
retired - formerly MOSHA Consultation