My mother is in a weilding class, and today she accidentally welded Galvanized Steel. She doesn't feel good and she wants to know what the symptoms are for Galvanized Poisoning from breathing in the Fumes. Please help, I am worried for her.
i have a dog with a galvanized chain on her neck ''for looks'' can she get even the slightest harmful effect from it being on her 24/7?
Pot stands and stoves constructed from galvanized steel can cause metal fume fever when heated. This is caused by the inhalation of zinc oxide fumes or dust produced when galvanized steel is welded or burned. The signs and symptoms can be vague (shaking chills, fever, body aches, headache, and fatigue) and are similar to those of the flu or a viral illness.
Galvanized steel is nothing more than regular steel with zinc added. However, unless you wear the proper gear or ventilate the fumes away, the zinc can cause heavy metal poisoning. As someone who has suffered from it before, usually the symptoms are an upset stomach, feeling queasy, diarrhea, and sometimes hallucinations. If it is bad, you start getting joint pain, a metallic taste in your mouth, and develop a fever. Usually, you can treat mild zinc poisoning by drinking lots of fluids and flushing out your system as much as possible. Still, if the problems persist for more than an hour or so, it can be lethal with many blacksmiths having died as a result of it. If she still feels bad, call a poison control center and tell them she breathed in zinc fumes. They will probably tell you to go to the ER to start treatment. It is not something you wait out.
