How long does metal fume fever last?
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).
What is metal fume fever and what causes it?
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.
What day of the week do you get fume fever?
Since most people go in to work on Monday, most signs and symptoms of metal fume fever begin on Monday or Tuesday. Interestingly, many people with persistent exposure to the metal fumes throughout the workweek report feeling better towards the end of the workweek as their body temporarily desensitizes to the fumes.
What happens if you breathe in metal fumes?
Other elements, such as copper and magnesium, may cause similar effects. 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.
How fast can you get metal fume fever?
Onset is typically rapid, occurring between three and 10 hours after exposure. Spontaneous recovery occurs within 24 hours. No long term complications are known. MFF is classically associated with zinc oxide fume exposure from welding galvanised steel or brass.
How do you know if you have metal fume fever?
The clinical symptoms, signs and investigation findings of MFF include fever, chills, myalgia, chest pain, nonproductive cough, metallic taste in the mouth, leucocytosis, headache and malaise.
How much welding fumes can you breathe in before it becomes harmful?
Based on the typical respiratory rate of 20 litres of air per minute or 2,300 m 3 of air per year, a welder operating within the workplace exposure standards for general welding fume (5 mg/m 3), wearing no respiratory protection could inhale up to 11 grams of carcinogenic welding fume per year.
How do you get rid of metal fume fever?
The primary treatment for both metal fume fever and polymer fume fever is supportive and directed at symptom relief. Oral hydration, rest, and the use of antipyretics and anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and aspirin) are recommended 9.
Why do welders drink milk?
The milk theory is based on the belief that when welders drink milk, the calcium in the milk will “saturate the body” and prevent the body from absorbing toxic heavy metals that can be found in welding fumes, such as cadmium.
How long does it take to get sick from welding galvanized steel?
The illness begins a few hours after exposure, or more frequently during the night. Some of the symptoms are a sweet taste in the mouth, dryness of the throat, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, chills or fever, rarely exceeding 102-degrees. Complete recovery normally occurs within 24-48 hours.
What happens if you breathe in metal fumes?
Clinical presentation: Metal fume fever typically presents with generally non-specific complaints including influenza-like symptoms, fever, shaking chills, arthalgias, myalgias, headache, and malaise. Onset of symptoms typically occurs 4-10 h following the exposure to metal-containing fumes.
How do welders stay healthy?
Breathe Freely. Fumes and smoke emitted during welding pose a health hazard. When welding in confined spaces, toxic fumes may accumulate, or shielding gasses may replace breathable air. Use an exhaust hood to remove fumes from the area and ensure enough clean breathing air is available.
What happens if you inhale too much metal?
Long-term exposure to metallic particles may cause impairment of pulmonary surfactant and lung function and result in chronic respiratory diseases. A significant decline in lung function consistent with slight airway obstruction has been reported in individuals working in the continuous casting processes.
What is welder's lung?
Pneumosiderosis, or more commonly referred to as Welder's lung, is an occupational lung disease that occurs after chronic inhalation of iron dust particles, especially in welders.
Does metal fume fever have long term effects?
Long-Term Effects It has been reported that chronic exposure to extremely high concentrations of zinc oxide fumes or dust for more than six months may lead to the development of dermatitis, boils, conjunctivitis, and gastrointestional disturbances.
Does milk help metal fume fever?
Quite the contrary: Milk is suspected to increase the absorption of toxic substances. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) even warns explicitly on their website: „Don't believe the stories about drinking milk before welding. It does not prevent you getting metal fume fever.
What happens if you inhale metal fumes?
Clinical presentation: Metal fume fever typically presents with generally non-specific complaints including influenza-like symptoms, fever, shaking chills, arthalgias, myalgias, headache, and malaise. Onset of symptoms typically occurs 4-10 h following the exposure to metal-containing fumes.
What happens if you inhale too much metal?
Long-term exposure to metallic particles may cause impairment of pulmonary surfactant and lung function and result in chronic respiratory diseases. A significant decline in lung function consistent with slight airway obstruction has been reported in individuals working in the continuous casting processes.
How do you know if you have galvanized poisoning?
The symptoms of galvanize poisoning are much like the symptoms of the flu. Shortly after galvanize poisoning sets in, you will experience nausea and a headache. Severe cases will align with symptoms of the flu like chills, cold sweats, vomiting, fever, and shaking.
What are the symptoms of Teflon flu?
Polymer fume fever is a relatively rare disease, caused by inhalation of products of thermal degradation of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). Clinical manifestations are typically characterised by constitutional symptoms such as fever, shivering, sore throat and weakness.
How long does it take for a metal fume fever to show?
Diagnosis of metal fume fever can be easily missed because the complaints are non-specific, resemble a number of other common illnesses, and presentation occurs typically 2–10 hours after the exposure . When respiratory symptoms are prominent, metal fume fever may be confused with acute bronchitis or pneumonia.
What is metal fume fever?
Metal fume fever, also known as brass founders' ague, brass shakes, zinc shakes, galvie flu, metal dust fever, welding shivers, or Monday morning fever, is an illness primarily caused by exposure to chemicals such as zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminium oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), or magnesium oxide (MgO) which are produced as byproducts in the fum es that result when certain metals are heated. Other common sources are fuming silver, gold, platinum, chromium (from stainless steel ), nickel, arsenic, manganese, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, lead, selenium, and zinc.
How to treat mild fume fever?
Treatment of mild metal fume fever consists of bedrest, keeping the patient well hydrated, and symptomatic therapy (e.g. aspirin for headaches) as indicated. In the case of non-allergic acute lung injury, standard or recommended approaches to treatment have not been defined.
What are the symptoms of a flu?
They include fever, chills, nausea, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pains, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, pneumonia, chest pain, change in blood pressure, dizziness, and coughing. A sweet or metallic taste in the mouth may also be reported, ...
Can metal fume fever be seen on chest xrays?
Chest X-ray abnormalities may also be present. An interesting feature of metal fume fever involves rapid adaptation to the development of the syndrome following repeated metal oxide exposure. Workers with a history of recurrent metal fume fever often develop a tolerance to the fumes.
Can cold sanding cause fume fever?
If the metal concerned is particularly high-risk, the residue from cold sanding processes may also cause fume fever, even if the dose is lower. It may also be caused by electroplated surfaces or metal-rich anti-corrosion paint, such as cadmium passivated steel or zinc chromate primer on aluminium aircraft parts.
Is it possible to get cytokines from metal fumes?
The most plausible metabolic source of the symptoms is a dose-dependent release of certain cytokines, an event which occurs by inhaling metal oxide fumes that injure the lung cells. This is not an allergic reaction, though allergic reactions to metal fumes can occur.
What is the most common cause of MFF?
The most common cause of MFF is the inhalation of zinc oxide (ZnO).
What is MFF in welding?
The metal fume fever (MFF) is an inhalation fever syndrome in welders of galvanized steel, who join and cut metal parts using flame or electric arc and other sources of heat. Inhalation of certain freshly formed metal oxides produced from welding process can cause MFF as an acute self-limiting flulike illness. The most common cause of MFF is the inhalation of zinc oxide (ZnO). The inhalation of ZnO particles can provoke a number of clinical responses of which accompanied by changes in composition of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid, including early increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines, inflammatory marker, and recruitment of inflammatory cells in the lungs. The MFF is characterized by fever, cough, sputing, wheezing, chest tightness, fatique, chills, fever, myalgias, cough, dyspnea, leukocytosis with a left shift, thirst, metallic taste, and salivations. The diagnosis of MFF diagnosis is based on clinical finding and occupational history. The symptoms resolved spontaneously. The treatment of MFF is entirely symptomatic, no specific treatment is indicated for MFF. The mainstay of management of MFF is prevention of sub-sequent exposure to harmful metals. Including public and physician awareness of MFF may help to reduce the occurrence of the disease.
What causes metal fume fever?
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.
How to reduce zinc oxide fumes?
Good safe practices recommend using engineering controls, such as local exhaust and/or general ventilation, to reduce the exposure level to zinc oxide fumes. However, there are times when such practices and controls are not feasible, or are in the process of being installed, or are down during periods of failure. Then respirators are needed. Respirators are often used for operations in confined spaces, such as tanks or closed vessels, and in emergency situations. Always use only respirators that are approved by the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) or by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
How much zinc oxide is in the air?
The current OSHA standard for zinc oxide fume is 5 milligrams of zinc oxide fume per cubic meter of air (mg/m3) averaged over an eight–hour work shift. NIOSH recommends that the permissible exposure limit be changed to 5 mg/m3 averaged over a work shift of up to 10 hours per day, 40 hours per week, with a Short–Term Exposure Limit (STEL) of 10 mg/m3 averaged over a 15–minute period. Consult the NIOSH standard, Criteria Document for Zinc Oxide, listed in the Information Sources for more detailed information.
What is metal fume fever?
Metal Fume Fever is the name for an illnessthat is caused primarily by exposure to zincoxide fume (ZnO) in the workplace. The maincause of this exposure is usually breathingthe fumes from welding, cutting, or brazingon galvanized metal. Metal Fume Fever is anacute allergic condition experienced bymany welders during their occupationallifetimes. Studies indicate that the mostcommon cause of metal fume fever isoverexposure to zinc fumes from welding,burning, or brazing galvanized steel. Sincegalvanized steel is more and more commonin industry, the chances of welders having towork on it are occurring more frequently allthe time. Other elements, such as copperand magnesium, may cause similar effects.
How long does zinc oxide fumes last?
The symp-toms usually start several hours afterexposure; the attack may last 6 to 24 hours.Complete recovery generally occurs withoutintervention within 24 to 48 hours. MetalFume Fever is more likely to occur after aperiod away from the job (after weekends orvacations). High levels of exposure maycause a metallic or sweet taste in the mouth,dry and irritated throat, thirst, and coughingat the time of the exposure. Several hoursafter exposure, a low–grade fever (seldomhigher than 102 F or 39 C). Then comessweating and chills before temperaturereturns to normal in 1 to 4 hours. If you
Overview
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is primarily anecdotal, that is, it depends upon a good occupational history. Diagnosis of metal fume fever can be easily missed because the complaints are non-specific, resemble a number of other common illnesses, and presentation occurs typically 2–10 hours after the exposure. When respiratory symptoms are prominent, metal fume fever may be confused with acute bronchitis or pneumonia. The diagnosis is based primarily upon a history of exposure to m…
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms are generally flu-like. They include fever, chills, nausea, headache, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pains, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, pneumonia, chest pain, change in blood pressure, dizziness, and coughing. A sweet or metallic taste in the mouth may also be reported, along with a dry or irritated throat which may lead to hoarseness. Symptoms of a more severe metal toxicity may also include a burning sensation in the body, shock, no urine output, col…
Cause
Metal fume fever is due to the inhalation of certain metals, either as fine dust or most commonly as fumes. Simple metal compounds such as oxides are equally capable of causing it. The effects of particularly toxic compounds, such as nickel carbonyl, are not considered merely metal fume fever.
Exposure usually arises through hot metalworking processes, such as smelting and casting of zi…
Treatment
Treatment of mild metal fume fever consists of bedrest, keeping the patient well hydrated, and symptomatic therapy (e.g. aspirin for headaches) as indicated. In the case of non-allergic acute lung injury, standard or recommended approaches to treatment have not been defined.
The consumption of large quantities of cow's milk, either before or immediately after exposure is a traditional remedy. However, the United Kingdom Health and Safety Executive challenges this ad…
Prevention
Prevention of metal fume fever in workers who are at risk (such as welders) involves avoidance of direct contact with potentially toxic fumes, improved engineering controls (exhaust ventilation systems), personal protective equipment (respirators), and education of workers regarding the features of the syndrome itself and proactive measures to prevent its development.
In some cases, the product's design may be changed so as to eliminate the use of risky metals. …
See also
• Occupational asthma
• Polymer fume fever
External links
• Inhalation fever
• Inorganic dust pneumonias: The metal-related parenchymal disorders in Environmental Health Perspectives (2000)