Metal finishing Q&As since 1989

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Galvanized steel building allergy?

Since I was a teenager, whenever I am near galvanized steel or aluminum buildings (sheds, etc.) I get light-headed and pass out. It happened twice when I was helping to erect a storage shed in the backyard and twice when I attended a county fair/amusement park and was surrounded by several of these buildings. I have looked for information on this but no luck so far. Any ideas what may be causing this? Time of year doesn't seem to matter and I have had to give up the county fair. I live in Northwest Florida.

Lisa Calloway
homeowner - Pensacola, Florida, US
March 12, 2010

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March 13, 2010

This sounds a really unpleasant problem.
I wonder if it is the building, the material its made of, or something to do with the zinc, or the aluminium?

If zinc: Do you also get this when near other galvanized steel, like fences, road crash barriers?
Tyres contain zinc, do they cause this? There's loads of zinc in lipstick (the bulking agent in it), and in some face creams. Do they cause this?
What about galvanized cars? (most Audis, BMW, VW, Volvo now have galvanized panels).

If aluminium: how about deodorants that contain lots of aluminium? Do they cause it? What about aluminium cookware? (pots and pans). How about cars with aluminium chassis?

Do the many other things that have zinc and aluminium cause similar symptoms? If not, maybe it's the building contents? Or what happens inside the buildings?
Could it be the plastic gutters on such buildings?

Geoff Crowley
Crithwood Ltd.
Westfield, Scotland, UK

Thank you for your ideas. I have no reaction to aluminum cookware, deodorant, fences, etc., only the buildings. I suppose this will remain a mystery!

Lisa Calloway
- Pensacola, Florida, USA
April 7, 2010