Aerosol characterization and pulmonary responses in rats after short-term inhalation of fumes generated during resistance spot welding of galvanized steel.

•An automated welder was designed to expose animals to galvanized spot welding fume.•Generated particles generally were in the submicron and ultrafine size ranges.•The primary metals present in galvanized spot welding fumes were iron and zinc.•Zinc appeared to be the causative agent in the development of acute lung inflammation.