Expert: Bryan Haywood - 8/1/2006

Question
dear bryan i am only young and i have bean welding gal pipe for 7 years and i am concerned about my health could u please tell me what toxin are in it so i can have a test for them so i know whether to leave our not i think there is lead + zinc any help woud be great thank u  

Answer
Here you go Jamie; if you need more info, just let me know.

Bryan

In the arc welding or torch welding of galvanized steel,
provision must be made for control of welding fumes when
planning procedures. Due to the relatively low melting point of zinc a proportion of the coating is volatilised and given off as a white zinc oxide fume. The presence of any fume evolved is obvious and this permits simple observation of the efficiency of the ventilation or extraction system.
When welding is carried out in accordance with normal
industrial practice with provision for adequate ventilation and air circulation, the non-toxic zinc fumes will cause no inconvenience. If adequate ventilation is not available supplementary ventilation using air extraction equipment or forced air circulating equipment should be provided.
Although welding fumes from galvanized steel are not toxic,
operators welding in a confined space should always be
provided with suitable respirators to minimise possible
discomfort. Fume development and consequent coating
damage may often be minimized with certain joint designs in
flat sheet by the use of copper chill bars. The chill bars are used as a backing strip or clamped on the weld side of the joint to absorb some of the heat generated during welding.

When zinc vapor mixes with the oxygen in the air, it reacts instantly to become zinc oxide. This is the same white powder that you see on some noses at the beach and the slopes. Zinc oxide is non-toxic and non carcinogenic. Extensive research into the effects of zinc oxide fumes has been done, and although breathing those fumes will cause welders to think that they have the flu in a bad way, there are no long-term health effects. Zinc oxide that is inhaled is simply absorbed and eliminated by the body without complications or chronic effects. Current research2 on zinc oxide fumes is concentrated in establishing the mechanism by which zinc oxide causes "metal fume fever," how its effects are self-limiting and why zinc oxide fume effects ameliorate after the first day of exposure even though the welder may continue to be exposed to zinc during subsequent
days ("Monday-morning fever"). Other research3 is being done using zinc oxide fumes together with various drugs which results in a synergetic effect for treatment of cancer and AIDS. Another area of research is use of zinc compounds as the active ingredients in throat lozengers that are recognized as significantly effective in reducing the duration and intensity of the common cold.
Typical “metal fume fever” begins about 4 hours after exposure, and full recovery occurs within 48 hours. The symptoms include fever, chills, thirst, headache and nausea. All of these symptoms, pain and suffering, as well as lost work (and play) time, can be avoided entirely by simply not inhaling the zinc oxide fumes. This can easily be done using any of the methods described later.
Unlike other heavy metals, such as copper, lead and mercury, zinc is an essential micro nutrient. Zinc is essential to the proper growth of plants and animals. Zinc forms part of the enzyme system that regulates biological processes throughout the body. As shown on any multi-vitamin/mineral bottle, the recommended minimum adult intake is 15 mg/day.