Zinc
Classification:
Zinc is a metal; compare to fume fever.
Synonyms/Trade Names:
Messingmalaria.
Chemistry/Composition:
Zn .
Structure:
Hexagonal closed packing.
Crystallographic Constants:
2.665 2.665 4.947 60.000 60.000 60.000.
Crystal Group:
Hexagonal.
Color:
Bluish white.
Optical Properties:
Opaque.
Pleochroism:
None.
Powder Diagram:
2.09 2.47 2.31 1.69 (4-831).
Natural Sources:
Main producing countries are Australia, the USA, and Russia. In 1980, world-wide 6.1×106 tons of zinc have been produced.
Medical Importance:
Key Hazards:
Possibly fibrogenic, weak toxic.
Involved Organs:
Lung.
Exposure/Epidemiology:
It is used in metallurgy (corrosion inhibitor), as pigment, and in pharmaceutical industries.
Thresholds:
In Germany, MAK 6 mg/m3.
Etiology/Pathophysiology:
Molten zinc reacts with the oxygen of the air to zinc-oxide, which creates fumes. These fumes are inhaled. Absorption occurs predominantly via the gastrointestinal tract. Zinc is deposited in the cells of the bones (60%) and muscles (30%). Its decay-time is dedicated from 160 to 500 days. In animal experiments, malignant tumors could be induced by Zn.
Lung Diseases:
Zinc fumes can induce intoxication and transient dyspnea. The metallic Zinc is not mutagenic or carcinogenic, opposite to ZnCrO4 which is carcinogenic.
Clinical Presentation:
Some hours after exposure to zinc oxide fumes fever and pain develop in different body regions, sometimes accompanied by vomiting and nausea.
Radiology:
Chest radiographs show diffuse, usually bilateral patchy densities.
Lung Function:
Usually restrictive findings.
Bronchoalveolar Lavage:
The lavage fluid contains a decreased number of alveolar macrophages, and an increased number of the other cells, especially lymphocytes and leukocytes.
Pathology:
Gross:
Acute intoxications display heavy, grayish, wet lungs, which may proceed to honeycombing and centrilobular emphysema.
Histology:
The findings include those usually seen in adult respiratory distress syndrome, i.e. alveolar edema, hyaline membranes, desquamation of the cells of the alveolar lining, cellular debris, and acute inflammatory infiltrates.
Prognosis:
Fair, as survivors of acute intoxications will usually suffer from slow progressive respiratory failure.
Additional Diseases:
None.
References:
search Pubmed for Zinc
Brown RC, Gormley IP, Chamberlain M, Davies R: The in-vitro effects of mineral dusts. Welding fumes and metallic particulates. Academic Press, London (1980) 202-230
Elinder CG: Zinc. In: L Friberg, CF Nordberg, VB Vouk (Eds): Handbook on the toxicology of metals. Elsevier, Amsterdam, New York (1992)
Elmes PC: Occupational respiratory disease. In: JK Howard, FH Tyrer (Eds): Textbook of occupational medicine. Churchill Livingstone, Edinburgh (1987)
Gordeon T, Chen LC, Fine JM, Schlesinger RB, Su WY, Kimmel TA, Amdur MO: Pulmonary effects of inhaled zinc oxide in human subjects, guinea pigs, rats, and rabbits. Am Ind Hyg Ass J 53 (1992) 503-509
Homma S, Jones R, Quist J, Zapol WM, Reid L: Pulmonary vascular lesions in the adult respiratory distress syndrome caused by inhalation of zinc chloride smoke. Hum Pathol 23 (1992) 45-50
Kayser K: Analytical Lung Pathology. Springer, Heidelberg, New York (1992)
Lam HF, Chen LC, Ainsworth D, Peoples S, Amdur MO: Pulmonary function of guinea pigs exposed to freshly generated ultrafine zinc oxide with and without spike concentrations. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 49 (1988) 333-341
Vogelmeier C, König G, Fruhmann G: Pulmonary involvement in zinc fume fever. Chest 92 (1987) 946-948
Wirth W, Gloxhuber C: Toxikologie. Thieme, Stuttgart (1985)