Super Categories
Subcategories
None
Known Synonyms
Zinc
zinc chloride
zintec
Zintec fumes
| Agent |
Zinc
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Other Names
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Sources of Exposure
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Where do occupational exposures occur?
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| Jobs |
Galvaniser, Smelter, Welders, Solderers |
Epidemiological Studies
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| Air Measurements |
One study found disease below the threshold limit value-short term exposure level (TLV-STEL) and that zinc can cause occupational asthma at 0.26 mg/m3. Zinc oxide has an 8-hr threshold limit value (TLV) of 5 mg/m3.
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| Specific IgE/ Skin prick test |
Positive immediate skin tests to zinc sulphate at concentrations of 1 and 10 mg.ml-1 were obtained in one study, but no IgE antibodies were found.
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| Biological Monitoring |
Bronchoalveolar lavage can show an increase in lymphocytes count with predominance of CD8 T-lymphocytes. Presence of zinc in alveolar macrophages can be assessed by analytic transmission electron microscopy |
| Specific Challenge |
Specific inhalation challenges were performed, having the subject inhale a solution of zinc sulphate at a 10 mg.ml-1 concentration for 6 min in one study.
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Early References
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Malo JL, Cartier A , Occupational asthma due to fumes of galvanized metal , Chest , 1987 ; 92 : 375-37 |
Substitutes
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Oasys Notifications for Zinc Fumes
The Oasys Audit scheme started midway through 2010 and collects agents typed in through the Oasys program. The years before 2010 show old data entered during 2010 or later and are likely to have many fewer notifications. We expect Oasys to become more widely adopted as time goes by so increasing notifications does not necessarily mean an increasing problem.
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Selected References for Zinc Fumes
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