Potential of selected metals to cause Metal Fume Fever: a comprehensive review

Metal fume fever (MFF) is a disease as old as the metallurgy of brass. It is an industrial acute illness of short duration that occurs when metals are heated above their melting point. It is most common to people with no previous exposure to the fumes or in workers returning to industrial environment after weekend. The disease is a constellation of symptoms, which may include metallic taste, cough, sneezing and tightness of chest, sweating, headache, fever, muscle aches, mouth dryness, nausea, vomiting, leykocytosis and tiredness. It is believed that the disease has an immunopathological basis facilitated by cytokines. The present paper highlights the mechanisms of MFF through the most relevant in vivo and in vitro experiments. Furthermore, each candidate metal is examined in relation to MFF provocation potential.