Breathing Problems - Fumes ?

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We have some aluminum bronze plates that have two holes we have to weld up and re-machine.They are 3/8" thick. We have welded about 350 of them with a mig using bronze mig wire and pure argon shielding gas.Two of our guys did the welding and both have gotten sick several hours later.They were sick to their stomach , had tight chests , chills and some trouble breathing. Both have recovered.They were welding the parts in a room that is about 20' x 40' with a high ceiling, 2 garage door openings ( both were open ) and a 2' exhaust fan located about 10' high on one wall.What made them sick ? Was it metal fumes or did the argon pool up in the room and lower the oxygen levels ?We don't do a lot of welding so this has not been a problem in the past but we don't want it to happen again !Any thoughts ? Thanks !
Reply:If you had 2 open doors that should be plenty to keep the argon from causing a problem.DennisThermal Arc 185-TSWMillermatic Challenger 172VictorO/AAtlas Craftsman 12 by 24 LatheEsab PCM-875Wholesalem Tool Mill-Drill
Reply:The smoke could be like galvanize and make you sick.  JohnSMAW,GMAW,FCAW,GTAW,SAW,PAC/PAW/OFCand Shielding Gases.  There all here. :
Reply:won't have been from argon- it's heavier than air. in a confined space maybe but not with two open doors. symptoms would different anywaysounds like 'metal fume fever' to meMSDS for aluminium bronze (bear in mind there's several alloys)... http://www.eutectic-na.com/usamsds/A...sds%204-07.pdf a large extraction fan on the wall isn't going cut it (air quality wise for the weldor). proper local extraction will prevent fume from reaching the weldors breathing zone however if usual work is with more benign alloys then PPE for the weldor may suit you better
Reply:Look around and find a welding dust mask in adition to local extraction. These are desighned not to burn and fit under a hood. I use one in tight spots and around zink. I grind it off but it sucks to get sick from that crap. www.tsdistributors.com Part number WS RW1 is the one I use. Cheap and seems to work ok. I also use it with flux core mig wire that stuff makes my chest tight if I weld it all day. Steel Thunder Welding LLC. St. Thomas VI USAMM350PBOBCAT 3MAXSTAR 150 STH375 EXTREME PLASMA6.5 HP COMPRESORDEWALT 18, 24, AND 36 VOLTO/A TORCH SETAND SO MUCH MORE I DONT REMEMBERALL IN MY 2005 2500HD EXTENDED CAB L/B
Reply:Thanks for the replies !Looks like metal fumes are the culprit.We had a few left to do and the big boss daid we would do no more until we got masks or something.I found a local shop that had what it takes to do them safely.Thanks Again !