Galvanized Iron Fumes

letter 9098

Galvanized Iron Fumes

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I do some blacksmithing, as a hobby, and I just read in a book that galvanized iron fumes are toxic. I am wondering (a) how toxic they are, (b) how to tell what metal is galvanized or not (c) if the fumes/yellow stuff that forms on the top and then comes off as fumes from some of the steel I get at the hardware store are toxic, and if they are, how to deal with that, or what other kind of metal to get.

I would really appreciate a response on this as soon as possible, because I don't want to get galvanize fume poisoning or something.

Dan Gro
- Burlington, Vermont

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I was told to never weld galvanized pipe. Zinc oxide is bad and gives you a headache very quickly, so you know to stop welding it. I have also heard that milk is a remedy and cleanser for zinc poisoning. If you must weld galvi then wear a respirator.

Matt Cartwright
- Portland, Oregon

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As far as drinking milk after being around Galvanize metal, I couldn't say! My husband has been up all night sick, he worked with galvanized pipes at work yesterday. He drank a large glass of milk..Didn't seem to help. Doesn't your emploer have to present you with some kind of warning on this stuff?

Martha
- Georgia

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"Worked with" is too vague a phrase to be of any use, Martha. I was a plumber's helper in my youth and worked with galvanized pipe every day; my father worked with galvanized pipe almost every working day of his life and never got sick from it once. It is exposure to the fumes produced by welding that causes this illness. Your husband could have fume fever, but he also could have food poisoning or the flu or a lot of other things.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com
Brick, New Jersey

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What if the Gal. pipe is subjected to radiant heat- about 700 deg., will it then give off the same toxic fumes as cutting on it with a torch?

Matt Brubaker
- Arnold, California

May 21, 2009

I do have first hand experience of galvanic fumes. The zinc almost killed me. The job "had to be done" that day and I was pressured to cut an 8 foot diameter corrugated drain pipe from the inside with oxy-acetylene. 5 hrs after the job I started shaking violently. I was able to literally stumble into a 7-11 and get a 1/2 gallon of milk thankfully remembering years earlier in a safety training. I felt like I had the WORST flu ever but no vomiting. With 20 minutes of drinking this whole half gallon I recovered. I am sure I would have died. Be careful out there. Wear a respirator!!! BTW this was years ago 20+.

James Henderson
- brentwood, California

January 23, 2010

actually, zinc oxide, which is emitted when you burn or weld galvanizing, is not toxic, however, it will make you feel like hell for a few days. i just got done cutting a lot of galvanized metal with and oxy/ acetylene torch, and i feel nauseous and my lungs feel like i just chained down carton of camel filters, but i know i'm in no danger. the body metabolizes zinc(read your vitamin's label). go to OSHA's website if you don't believe me. if he is burning galvanizing he should be wearing a positive flow mask.

ben fairbank
self/ contractor - logan, utah usa

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