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Can asthma be caused by welding galvanized steel pipes?

I welded galvanized for a couple of months, and developed asthma at the same time. I had no pre-existing condition before I started to weld galvanized steel pipes. I was not issued a respirator for quite sometime, not till after being hospitalized for asthma. Is this somehow related. Would somebody please finally answer my question. I have seemed to not have a problem since I quit welding galvanized. I am still a welder and machinist, with consequently no problems.

Adam D [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
welder - Enterprise, Kansas
2004

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Most of us have heard of the flu-like symptoms of 'metal fume fever', but I haven't personally heard of asthma from welding. If you are really interested, though, there are a few books on the subject of the effects of welding fumes.

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey
2005

This is an age old question. I have not personally ever heard of breathing fumes from welding galvanized material developing into asthma. The symptoms are usually slight fever, sweating, and head-ache, all of which are very short lived (a few hours). There is a lot of info available through a site link to by this site. The organization is the American Galvanizers Association.

David Jaye
Houston, Texas
2005

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First of two simultaneous responses -- 2005

There is a form of asthma termed Occupational Asthma that can develop due to workplace exposure to certain materials (Stainless steel is one of these). Some people can also have asthmatic responses to certain types of solder flux, but since it's not been a problem since you stopped welding the material in question, it may not be that.

Since the welding of galvanized materials yields zinc fumes it may be possible that this is causing your asthma. Alternatively, it may simply be that your condition was effectively dormant until you began welding galvanized, and this irritated your lungs enough to make you need treatment. (I am asthmatic myself, I don't exhibit symptoms until I start running in cold air, or am exposed to certain forms of fauna and other irritants.)

Discuss the possibility of this being occupational asthma with your doctor, or contact an occupational health authority for further information.

http://www.mflohc.mb.ca/fact_sheets_folder/asthma_occupational.html This may be of use to you too. Sorry I can't provide any contact information for your state, I'm a little far from Kansas to help with that :)

Nicola Wilcox
- Willenhall, West Midlands, England

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Second of two simultaneous responses --

How much is too much exposure to galvanized welding fumes? Our supervisor is so tight wound & micro-manages & disrespects people in our shop to the extent that the work load we have to endure is tremendous because people are scared of him yelling & cussing at us! In turn meaning, our welders are welding at unsafe paces to where it is hard to take the time to avoid these fumes as well as clean out our filters in our Lincoln Electric Smoke Suckers, to the point they don't suck any smoke at all. If they do work, the sparks we create from welding at such high temps falls on the hoses & creates holes in them & they won't vacuum properly then either.

I have mentioned this to our shop supervisor & he insists we don't have time to clean or change filters because of our oversized workload.

Today as for example, I have inhaled so much, that I feel like I'm floating right now, have super cold chills & shudders throughout my body, my head hurts, constantly gagging & coughing.

Should we be using some sort of air injection devices/systems in our helmets to keep the amount of fumes we have to endure down to a minimum or any at all?

Thanks........

Ken T [last name deleted for privacy by Editor]
- Melbourne, Florida
2005

Ken,

Not sure what standards exist for welding fume control, but I know there are some. An anonymous call to OSHA might be the ticket. It is sad but sometimes it takes the possibility of fines to correct this type of situation.

Good Luck

Trent Kaufman
electroplater - Galva, Illinois
2005

I manage a large number of steel roll containers which are zinc plated. The repairs to these roll containers are contracted out. I have heard that welding over zinc plate causes dangerous fumes. Is this correct. What are the dangers & symptoms that may arise of not using correct breathing apparatus whilst welding over zinc plate.

Robin Smith
Dairy Industry - Chelmsford, Essex, UK
2005

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September 21, 2009

I work in an office attached to a shop, where they are welding galvanized pipe into large gates. There is no ventilation, fans other than our heating and air conditioning system.

My co-worker and I have a rash all over our backs, my co worker also has it on her face. We are wondering if it could be from the welding and cutting they are doing in the back shop.

it is interesting to note that my co worker's desk is located directly under an air
vent, as previously mentioned she has the rash on her face as well.

We are also experiencing nausea and head aches, and neither one of us are Pregnant!

thanks for your help,

Wendy

Wendy Colton
office worker - Toronto Canada

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September 22, 2009

Hi, Wendy. Nausea and headache sounds possible; a rash much less likely. But please remember that I and most readers here are metal finishers, not medical advisers. Any chance you have a company doctor, industrial hygienist, or at least an environmental & safety director you can talk to?

Regards,

Ted Mooney, P.E.
Striving to live Aloha
finishing.com - Pine Beach, New Jersey