[stylin19a]

Metal treatment and distribution warehouses. "Treatment" to include heat treat/induction hardening, surface grinding and (the big bugaboo with EPA) metal finishing.

Friend of mine did this for a living. I worked, for a short while, at the factory he worked at. His work attire was a hard rubber apron\boots and gloves - mostly no mask though sometimes he wore what looked like a welders mask. Mostly heat and chemical treating of metal parts made for autos and airplanes.

He was a young man when he died and nobody talked much about what he died from or whether his job contributed to his early demise. When asked, the subject got changed...

[Unrepentant VN Vet]

He was a young man when he died and nobody talked much about what he died from or whether his job contributed to his early demise

Metal finishing involves a ton of chemicals/compounds that break down/modify structures of some of the toughest material on the planet. What it can do to human/animal tissues and organs over prolonged periods of exposure is a direct extension of those properties.

I wouldn't walk into a plating area without breathing and full body protection and I only visited/supervised. People who worked in those areas under my supervision were trained to exceed my protection standards or stay the hell out of the place. No exceptions.

My condolences on your friend. The "soup" probably caused his death...but he really should have been more careful around it.