Metal fume fever

Metal fume fever, also known as brass founders' ague, brass shakes, zinc shakes, galvie flu, metal dust fever, or Monday morning fever, is an illness primarily caused by exposure to certain fumes. Workers breathe in fumes from chemicals such as zinc oxide (ZnO) or magnesium oxide (MgO), which are themselves created by heating or welding certain metals, particularly galvanized steel. Other common sources are fuming silver, gold, or platinum metals. Chromium is also a hazard, from stainless steel. Cadmium, present in some older silver solder alloys can, in extreme cases, cause loss of consciousness within a matter of minutes. Welders are commonly exposed to the substances that cause metal fume fever.