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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
(Ted can offer longterm or instant help)
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2003

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