Welding Galvanized Steel Milk. I apparently was not as well ventilated as I should have been. The milk theory is that when a welder is exposed to zinc fumes produced by welding galvanized steel the calcium in the milk supposedly helps prevent the bodys absorption of the zinc.
In order to protect steel it is sometimes put through a galvanization. While welding look for the telltale yellowish-green smoke being emitted from the metal or a white powdery residue on the metal. Drinking milk can quicken the recovery process as calcium helps remove the zinc build-up from your body.
Some welders recommend drinking a glass of milk or taking a calcium supplement before welding galvanized steel.
This does work to some degree but its obviously not a cure for severe exposure to zinc fumes. You may be familiar with the practice of drinking milk when welding on galvanized. Metal fume fever also known as brass founders ague brass shakes zinc shakes galvie flu metal dust fever welding shivers or Monday morning fever is an illness primarily caused by exposure to chemicals such as zinc oxide ZnO aluminium oxide Al 2 O 3 or magnesium oxide MgO which are produced as byproducts in the fumes that result when certain metals are heated. So much so some welders have been known to drink milk or take calcium supplements before welding galvanized steel to combat the effects of the zinc.