Zinc fuming

Zink-oxydnitrat, n. zinc nitrate, -pecherz, n. sphalerite. -pol wi. zinc pole, cathode, -pulver, n. zinc powder, -raffinerie, /. zinc refinery, -rauch, m. zinc fume, -salbe, /. zinc ointment, -salz, n. zinc salt. 

Fusion welding operations are rather more difficult with brasses than with other copper alloys (because of evolution of zinc fume from brasses). 

Tables 3.41 and 3.42 illustrate the TRI releases and transfers for the secondary nonferrous metals smelting and refining industry. For the industry as a whole, the largest releases were the various metals aluminum (fume or dust), zinc compounds, lead compounds, copper, and zinc (fume or dust).

Zinc intoxication can occur both from inhaling zinc fumes and particles, mainly in industrial processes, and from orally ingesting an excess of zinc in dietary supplements. Zinc intoxication can cause stomach pains, vomiting, and bleeding. Excess zinc also can cause premature birth in pregnant women. 

Brown JJL Zinc fume fever. Br J Radiol 6E327-329, 1988... 

HC = mixture of hexachloroethane and zinc (fume generator) (USA) HE = high explosive (USA)... 

SAFETY PROFILE Human systemic effects by ingestion cough, dyspnea, and sweating. A human skin irritant. Pure zinc powder, dust, and fume are relatively nontoxic to humans by inhalation. The difficulty arises from oxidation of zinc fumes immediately prior to inhalation or presence of impurities such as Cd, Sb, As, Pb. Inhalation may cause sweet taste, throat dryness, cough, weakness, generalized aches, chills, fever, nausea, vomiting. 

The Cottrell process will not throw down SO2 and it apparently only throws down SOs through the formation and precipitation of sulphuric acid. Water helps on many problems. One use has already been mentioned. It has been stated that zinc fumes with the proper amount of water can be handled at temperatures as high as 600 to 700°F. The water must be thoroughly mixed with the fume. Steam also helps in precipitating tin chloride. 

A smelter releases 10 kg/day of zinc fumes via a stack whose effective height is 120 m. When the wind velocity is 10 mph from the southwest, measurably elevated atmospheric zinc levels occur in residential areas east and north of the smelter. 

Zinc toxicity is uncommon. It is usually due to exposure to high levels of zinc fumes. It is difficult to induce toxicity by dietary means. However, in cases of self poisoning with zinc salts, the symptoms are fever, vomiting, stomach cramps and diarrhoea. 

Fine and nanosized zinc oxide particles caused in vivo releases of LDH, indicating cell killing cell numbers, indicating inflammation and increased polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), indicating acute inflammation in rat BALF this response reduced quickly for LDH and BALF cell numbers BALF PMN persisted to 1 week after initial exposure (7). These particle responses resembled those of particles that did not persist (carbonyl iron and amorphous silica). However, crystalline silica while having similar intensities of response, persisted to 3 months after initial exposure, suggesting that the inflammation continued (7). Responses of factory workers to continued zinc fumes more closely resembled that of crystalline sihea chronic flbrosis (16, 17), or healing by secondary intent (fibroplasia and fibrosis) (31, 32, 35-37). 

Facilities That Manufacture or Process Zinc (Fume or Dust) ... 

Releases to the Environment from Facilities That Manufacture or process Zinc (Fume or... 

One report described hives and angioedema in a man exposed to zinc fumes at a zinc smelting plant (Farrell 1987). The author suggested that the patient had an immediate or delayed immunoglobulin E (IgE) response (or both) after a low dose of zinc fumes. Metal fume fever also resulted when the exposure increased. The signs and symptoms of toxicity were repeated in a challenge test conducted at the patient s home. 

In a group of 14 welders acutely exposed to 77-153 mg zinc/m as zinc oxide, significant correlations between the concentration of airborne zinc and the proportion of activated T cells, T helper cells, T inducer cells, T suppressor cells, and activated killer T cells were observed 20 hours after exposure (Blanc et al. 1991). In addition, significant increases in levels of polymorphonuclear leukocytes, macrophages, and all types of lymphocytes were observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid 20 hours after exposure. Increased levels of lymphocytes, with a predominance of CD8 cells, in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were reported in a case study of a smelter exposed to unspecified levels of zinc fumes (Ameille et al. 1992). 

The studies in humans and animals reveal that inhalation of zinc as particulate or fume can result in respiratory ailments (Drinker and Drinker 1928 Sturgis et al. 1927). These zinc fumes or particles are a particular problem for industrial workers. It is possible that inhalation exposure to zinc compounds could result in respiratory effects in people living near a hazardous waste site. 

Other Systemic Effects. Elevated body temperature, a symptom of metal fume fever syndrome, was reported by workers inhaling zinc fumes and dust (Malo et al. 1990). 

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