Soldering fluxes as a cause of metal fever

I am currently required to do a lot of soldering with stainless steel, copper, and sometimes galvanized. The fluxes involved contain zinc chloride, is it possible to get Metal Fever from the fumes created by the flux? I have experienced the metallic taste described in the symptom lists on many occasions as well as some of the other symptoms. My second question is: an old time welder once told us that drinking a quart of milk before and after welding galvanized would prevent the toxins from harming us is this true?

Tammy Moss
- Titusville, FL, U.S.A
2003

Sorry I have no experience in this. But if the flux is zinc chloride and it burns/vaporizes as fluxes do, I would certainly expect it to cause zinc fume fever. Get a good exhaust fan instead of relying on milk to battle the effects of inhaling zinc fumes.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
Ted is available for instant help
or longer-term assistance.
2003

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