Magnesium oxide fume: Health effects
Description
Breathing freshly generated magnesium oxide fume can irritate the eyes and nose. It can cause metal fume fever triggering symptoms such as headache, cough, sweating, nausea, fever, oppression in the chest and leucocytosis (increase in the number of white blood cells in the blood). The symptoms of metal fume fever might not become manifest until 4-12 hours after exposure and may last for 24 hours. Metal fume fever is not believed to have permanent effects. No chronic (long-term) health effects are known at this time.
Entering the body
Magnesium oxide fume can be inhaled.
Exposure
Inhalation of magnesium oxide can occur in industrial workplaces. Exposure can usually be minimised by adequate ventilation at the site of formation. A respirator may be required in some situations.
Health guidelines
Worksafe Australia defines magnesium oxide as hazardous and has set the exposure standard for magnesium oxide fume to 10 milligram/m3 (TWA).
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