Metal smoke fever , also known as landing of brass founders , vibrating brass , vibrating zinc , galvie flu , metal dust fever , Las Shivers , or fever Monday morning , is a disease caused primarily by exposure to chemicals such as zinc oxide (ZnO), aluminum oxide (Al 2 O 3 ), or magnesium oxide (MgO) produced as a by-product in smoke produced when certain metals are heated. Other common sources are silver, gold, platinum, chromium (from stainless steels), nickel, arsenic, manganese, beryllium, cadmium, cobalt, lead, selenium, and zinc.
Welders are generally exposed to substances that cause metal smoke fever from base metals, coatings, or fillers. Soldering and soldering can also cause metal toxicity due to lead, zinc, copper, or cadmium. In extreme cases, cadmium (present in some old silver solder alloys) can cause loss of consciousness.
Video Metal fume fever
Signs and symptoms
The signs and symptoms are generally flu-like. They include fever, chills, nausea, headaches, fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, lack of appetite, shortness of breath, pneumonia, chest pain, changes in blood pressure, and cough. Sweetness or metals in the mouth can also be reported, along with a dry or irritated throat that can cause hoarseness. Symptoms of more severe metallic toxicity may also include a burning sensation in the body, shock, no urine output, collapse, seizures, shortness of breath, yellow or yellow eyes, rash, vomiting, runny or bloody or low blood or high diarrhea. pressure, which requires immediate medical attention. Symptoms such as flu usually disappear within 24 to 48 hours. Full recovery often takes one to three weeks.
Maps Metal fume fever
Cause
Metal fume smoke is due to inhalation of certain metals, either as fine dust or most commonly as smoke. Simple metal compounds such as oxides are equally capable of causing it. The effects of highly toxic compounds, such as carbonyl nickel, are not considered only metal fume smoke.
Exposure usually occurs through hot metal processes, such as melting and casting of zinc alloys, galvanized metal welding, brazing, or soldering. If the metal in question is very high-risk, the residue from the cold sanding process can also cause smoke fever, even if the dose is lower. This may also be caused by coated metallic surfaces or metal-rich anti-corrosion paints, such as cadmium passivated steel or primary zinc chromate on aluminum aircraft parts. Exposure has also been reported in the use of lead-free ammunition, by metal stripping metal harder than bullet jackets and gun barrel.
The most plausible metabolic source of symptoms is the release of a certain dose dependent cytokine, an event that occurs by inhaling the metal oxide fumes that injure the lung cells. This is not an allergic reaction, although an allergic reaction to metal smoke can occur.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis is primarily anecdotal, that is, it depends on a good job history. Diagnosis of fume metal fever can easily be lost due to non-specific complaints, resembling a number of other common diseases, and presentations occur usually 2-4 hours after exposure. When prominent respiratory symptoms, metal smoke fever may be confused with acute bronchitis or pneumonia. The diagnosis is based primarily on a history of exposure to metal oxide fumes. Cain and Fletcher (2010) reported cases of metal smoke fever diagnosed simply by taking a complete occupational history and with close collaboration between primary and secondary health care personnel.
Physical symptoms vary among exposed people, depending on the stage of the syndrome journey during the examination. Patients may present with wheezing or crackling in the lungs. They usually have an increase in the number of white blood cells, and urine, blood plasma and skin zinc levels may (not surprisingly) increase. X-ray abnormalities may also occur.
An interesting feature of metal smoke fever involves rapid adaptation to the development of the syndrome after exposure to recurrent metal oxide. Workers with a history of recurring metal smoke fever often develop tolerance to smoke. This tolerance, however, is temporary, and lasts only during the working week. After a weekend absence, tolerance usually disappears. The phenomenon of tolerance is what causes the name "Monday Fever".
In 2006, about 700 metallic smoke exposures were reported to the US Poison control center. The American Welding Society estimates that 2,500 employees in the steel industry develop metal fever in the United States every year and most cases are not reported.
Treatment
Treatment of mild metal smoke fever consists of bed rest, keeping the patient well hydrated, and symptomatic therapy (eg aspirin for headache) as indicated. In the case of non-allergic acute lung injury, the standard or recommended approach to treatment has not been established.
Consumption of cow milk in large quantities, either before or immediately after exposure is a traditional medicine. However, the British Royal Health and Safety Executive challenged this suggestion, warning, "Do not believe the story about drinking milk before welding does not prevent you from getting a metal fever."
Prevention
Prevention of metal fume fever at workers at risk (such as welders) involves the avoidance of direct contact with potentially toxic smoke, increased technical control (exhaust ventilation systems), respiratory equipment, and worker education related features of the syndrome itself and proactive action to prevent its development.
In some cases, product design can be changed thus eliminating the use of risky metals. NiCd rechargeable batteries are replaced by NiMH. It contains other toxic metals, such as chromium, vanadium and cerium. Cadmium is often replaced by other metals. Zinc or nickel plating can be used instead of cadmium coating, and brazing filler alloys now rarely contain cadmium.
See also
- Asthma work
- Polymer fume fever
References
External links
- Respiratory fever
- https://web.archive.org/web/20081006052626/http://files.aws.org/technical/facts/FACT-25.PDF
- Kelleher, P; Pacheco, K; Newman, L. S (2000). "Inorganic dust pneumonia: Parenchymal disorders associated with metals". Environmental Health Perspective . 108 Suppl 4: 685-96. doi: 10.2307/3454405. PMCÃ, 1637664 . PMIDÃ, 10931787.
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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