Zinc oxide fume exposure is inhaling fine zinc particles released when zinc or galvanized metal is heated, a common cause of metal fume fever.
Inhalation of very fine zinc oxide particles that form when zinc or zinc-coated (galvanized) metal is heated to high temperatures during welding, cutting, brazing, or galvanizing. Short-term overexposure is a leading cause of metal fume fever, a flu-like illness. OSHA's permissible exposure limit for zinc oxide fume is 5 mg/m³ as an 8-hour time-weighted average.
A fabrication shop welding galvanized steel installs fume extraction arms at each welding station and issues respirators after air monitoring shows zinc oxide levels approaching the exposure limit.
Symptoms of metal fume fever typically begin several hours after exposure and can include fever, chills, muscle aches, headache, a metallic taste, and fatigue, usually resolving within a day or two.
Effective controls include local exhaust ventilation at the source, removing galvanized coating from the weld area where practical, positioning workers out of the fume plume, and respiratory protection when other controls are insufficient.
It can be, depending on the outcome; if the illness results in days away from work, restricted duty, or medical treatment beyond first aid, it may meet OSHA recording criteria.
Part of SafetyIQ's EHS glossary: plain-English definitions of workplace health and safety terms.
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