Metal Fume Fever - Cause

Cause

Metal fume fever is due to the inhalation of certain metals, either as fine dust or most commonly as fumes. Simple compounds of the metals, such as their oxides, are equally capable of causing it. The effects of particularly toxic compounds, such as nickel carbonyl, are not considered as a mere metal fume fever.

Exposure usually arises through hot metalworking processes, such as smelting and casting of zinc alloys, or welding of galvanized metals. If the metal concerned is particularly high-risk, then cold sanding processes may also cause it, even though the dose is lower. This may also occur with electroplated surfaces or metal-rich anti-corrosion paint, such as cadmium passivated steel or zinc chromate primer on aluminium aircraft parts. Exposure has also been reported in use of lead free ammunition, by the harder steel core stripping excess metal from the jacket of the bullet and barrel of the rifle.

The most plausible mechanism accounting for the symptoms involves a dose-dependent release of certain cytokines, an event which occurs by inhaled metal oxide fumes which injure the lung cells. This is not an allergic reaction, though allergic reactions to metal fumes can occur.