Of particular concern are exposures to heavy metals such as nickel, chromium, manganese, and zinc that may occur during the manufacture of specific types of steel products such as steel alloys. The health effects of these air contaminants will vary depending on chemical composition, airborne concentration, and particle size. Metal fume fever is a common temporary illness among workers exposed to the zinc fumes and other metals such as copper, manganese, and iron. New workers and those returning to work after a weekend are more likely to experience symptoms of nausea, headache, fever, and chills associated with exposure. Exposures can occur due to leaks from furnaces or gas pipelines or during maintenance procedures in or around blast furnaces.
Carbon monoxide can cause asphyxiation by interfering with the oxygen-carrying capacity of blood.
OSHA established an 8-hour PEL of 50 ppm for carbon monoxide. Other significant hazards are coke oven emissions that are defined as the benzene soluble fraction of the airborne particulate generated during the carbonization of coal. Epidemiological studies have revealed that coke oven workers are at risk of many types of cancer. Those employed for more than five years evidenced excess lung cancer mortality rates up to 10 times higher than was expected. The main exposure to silica occurs during installation of refractory brick materials in the lining of furnaces and ovens and during furnace maintenance procedures.