Effects of welding galvanized steel...

[Ellen]

I see my kidney surgeon again on July 17th. I've made a note to ask him a few questions on this topic, and will report back.

I'm thinking back to welding on the lower parts of corral panels (where they rust out most often), and thinking of many times on windless days tasting the zinc and blowing my nose and getting a yellowish white tinge........

It is my understanding, and this is unsubstantiated by scientific research of the literature on my part, that (1) heavy metal poisoning is cumulative (2) that it stays in your body virtually forever.....

[Ten Hammers]

Those of us that HAVE welded galvanized over the years will recall a distinct taste in our mouth afterwards. Peculiar taste. Heavy metal poisioning is cumulative, yes. The last few times I have welded anything with a questionable coating ( inc powdercoat, galvanized, etc ) I have either used the shop fan or a shop vac. The shopvac hose can be placed to the side of the weldament and will draw all the smoke ( this is on a table ). I do NOT make a practice of welding plated stuff. I weld for a living and we weld through cutting fluid, mill preservation oil, etc daily. We use fans to take the smoke away from us and still keep the shielding gas ( same fashion I use in the home shop ). We are issued one set of lungs and other body parts. Some are critical, some not. We really need to take care of the critical stuff. In this day and age, some parts can be replaced or rebuilt. amazing stuff this modern medicine. Ellen brings up some very good points though.

[mcraigl]

I realized that I wasn't using all of my resources on this so I emailed a couple of my friends that are physicians and asked them for reference material also. Unfortuneately I'm going on vacation for a while and won't be back to it until the middle of July. I'm more and more interested in the half life of heavy metals in our body. Hoping to have some good info to report back in a bit.

ML

[Rick Barter]

Originally Posted by Woody

Further, I would direct their attention to my Blueprint on Respiratory Protection which is published on this site.

Woody, can you tell us what the number of this blueprint is? I've been looking by subject and by author, but found nothing under Respiratory Protection or Woody.

rvb

[ApprenticeMan]

Originally Posted by Ellen

I see my kidney surgeon again on July 17th. I've made a note to ask him a few questions on this topic, and will report back.

I'm thinking back to welding on the lower parts of corral panels (where they rust out most often), and thinking of many times on windless days tasting the zinc and blowing my nose and getting a yellowish white tinge........

It is my understanding, and this is unsubstantiated by scientific research of the literature on my part, that (1) heavy metal poisoning is cumulative (2) that it stays in your body virtually forever.....

It is cumulative, and suprisingly, alot of people seem to notice that alot of everyday products, like toothpaste have heavy metals in them.

[sandpile]

A few people are able to take advice on what is bad for their health. Most have the additude that if I am careful I can get away with it. A few things that I have marked down to NOT do again.

1. Don't cut or weld Galv. Except outdoors, in a breeze.
2. Don't weld inside a bright galvanized shed or barn, especially if there or two of you welding.
3.NEVER tell your wife to chill out, shut up, or sit down.

Chuck

[Woody]

Rick:

Sorry for not replying sooner, I haven't checked this thread for quite a while, if you will email me I will send you a copy I can't find the blueprint either.

Woody

[Pat Roy]

After reading the Paw Paw Wilson tragedy, I went into my shop and removed and discarded any iron with zinc or shiny coating on it; like cadmium coated bolts and nuts etc. I don't want to weld, grind burn or forge anything like that. A lot of painted metal isn't great for you either. I also wear a dust mask to keep the soot and dust out of my breathing apparatus. I want to enjoy my grandchildren for as long as possible.

[squire]

In my younger days as a apprentice welding Gavl was one of those jobs that just had to be done sometimes.
The guy who talked about drinking milk is mostly right accept that you drink it before starting to weld.
I havent touched the stuff in 20 years and dont intend to any time soon.
The effects of Zinc poisioning are not very pleasent.
The systoms are :
1/ Sweet tast in mouth.
2/ The Shivers ( no matter how hard you try to stay warm you still shiver )
and finally 4/ where you vomit for a few hours.
It takes a good 24hrs to clear.

[Glenn]

Squire
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