Ferrous ions, Fe2+, form when skin touches the iron in rust, especially if skin is moist. These ions react with fatty compounds called lipid peroxides, present on your skin, to produce carbonyl compounds such as 1-octen-3-one. This has a smell we associate with metal.
Is the smell of rust toxic?
While limited exposure to rust dust is not harmful in the long term, repeated exposure irritates the eyes, ears, nose and throat and can damage the lungs.
Is rusted metal toxic?
Rust is non-toxic and so presents no biological hazards. The main environmental impacts of rust is the degradation of steel and iron structures, such as bridges, automobiles, etc.
