It is not only the heat that is the problem. zinc will react with acid. I
will not place my meat on zinc.
if I would use a galvanized barrel where the meat or dripping does not get
in contact with the barrel (placed vertical without the steel bottom) I
would not care much about it and go ahead and use it.

Adriaan

"Piedmont" > schreef in bericht
...
> Perhaps the final word on using zinc coated metals in barbecue. Two
> commentary's on the subject as discussed on SPTSB~bbq List.
>
>
> "Zinc fever or 'Metal Fume Fever' is caused by inhaling zinc oxide, not
> metallic zinc, vapors. Zinc oxide forms when zinc boils (not melts)
> which occurs at 907 degrees Celsius which is 1665 degrees Fahrenheit -
> much hotter than most any pit temperature. This temperature is often
> reached in welding which is the environment where the disease most often
> occurs. Additionally, it usually takes several hours of exposure within
> fairly close proximity to the welding to get the disease. It usually
> goes away in a few days. I think it is HIGHLY unlikely anyone would
> contract the disease during BBQing using galvanized metal. Also, the
> disease occurs only on inhalation of the zinc oxide, it is not dangerous
> (in small quantities) when consumed. You can find out a lot about this
> by going to
>
> http://hazmap.nlm.nih.gov/
>
> choosing 'By type of agents', choosing 'metals', choosing 'Metals,
> inorganic compounds', and then choosing 'zinc oxide'."
>
> AND,
>
> "The discussion on zinc and its oxide needs a little clarification. It is
> not the gas from melting zinc that is hazardous. We don't cook that hot.
> But galvanized metals are coated in zinc. The surface layer is oxidized
> by O2 as well as CO2. That is why galvanization slows corrosion of the
> underlying metal.
>
> BUT... the zinc oxide and zinc carbonate layer will contaminate your food.
>
> "It is unsafe to use any galvanized container for food preparation or
> storage. Zinc can migrate from the container into your food and can be
> toxic."
>
> Barbara Willenberg, Nutritional Sciences, University of Missouri-Columbia.
>
> Fron the zinc carbonate MSDS-
>
> "Toxicology;
>
> May be harmful by inhalation, ingestion or through skin contact."
>
> Especially note this from the zinc oxide MSDS sheet-
>
> "Repeated exposures to zinc oxide by skin contact have resulted in
> papular-pustular skin eruptions in the axilla, inner thigh, inner arm,
> scrotum and pubic areas [ACGIH 1991].""
>
> --
> Mike Willsey (Piedmont)
> The Practical Bar B Q'r at,
> http://groups.msn.com/ThePracticalBarBQr/_whatsnew.msnw
>
>