ANST - Warning for Chainmail crafters

[Keith E. Brandt, M.D.]

I did some checking around today and cannot confirm any significant
absorption of zinc from galvanized metal. The occupational and toxicology
texts show inhalation of metal fumes, e.g., from welding, as the primary
mode of exposure. There have also been some reports of metal fume fever
from grinding applications. You can also directly eat the metal and get
symptoms. I guess if you are holding the mail in your mouth while you work
on it there might be some risk there. I ran a quick literature search, and
came up with no listing of exposures from galvanized metal. Most of the
articles were concerned with trying to get zinc absorbed by using various
compounds, and it appeared they were having difficulty with trying to get
the zinc in when they wanted to. 

Bottom line, I can find no evidence that there is significant skin
absorption of zinc from galvanized metal. Caution should be used if you are
grinding or heating galvanized metal so as not to inhale or ingest fumes or
particles.

[As background, I am not the final word, but I do have quite a bit of
experience in occupational medicine. I was chief of occupational medicine
at Dover AFB, hold a master of public health, and am current a resident in
Aerospace Medicine (of which occupational medicine is a large part)]

Will be glad to field further questions and do more research if desired.

In Service to Physick and Chirurgy,
Galen

Friar Galen of Ockham
chirurgeon at altavista.net
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>Hi to all of you who make chainmail,
>A warning just came out in the Orchid jewelers list about the dangers of
>working with galvanized metals, in particular, galvanized steel wire.  It
>seems that the zinc used to galvanize the wire is easily absorbed through
>the pores of the skin as is  dissolves form the acids in perspiration.  If
>you work with the galvanized wire rings for an extended period, you are at
>risk to develop a type of heavy metal poisoning from the zinc that causes
>fever, light-headedness, and other flu-like symtoms.  This will pass with
>bed rest and aspirin therapy in about a week.  I am keeping a file off list
>for anyone who wants more information about this that I can send via e-mail
>if you contact me directly.  I was alarmed when I read this since it
>explains some of recurrent bouts of apparent flu that a friend of mine keeps
>having.  He is going to consult a doctor and find out more.  I don't want to
>alarm anyone, but I felt the warning should be passed on for the safety of
>our people.
>
>Lyrial the Untamed
>MKA Lynn Bell
>Crystal Legends
>http://www.wtrt.net/~lynnb
>
>lynnb at wtrt.net

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