On May 24, 5:30*am, piedmont > wrote:
> On Sun, 23 May 2010 22:00:35 -0400, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> > "piedmont" > wrote in message
> ...
> >> On Sun, 23 May 2010 16:48:10 -0400, brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> >>> On Sun, 23 May 2010 12:17:00 -0500, Sqwertz >
> >>> wrote:
>
> >>>>On Sun, 23 May 2010 08:40:04 -0400, Big Jim wrote:
>
> >>>>> Wrong, Squirts.
> >>>>> * If you will notice there is no contact with the fire to the
> >>>snip
>
> >> the temperature at which zinc melts is 787.15F according to wikipedia,
> >> hence as Big Jim stated as long as the coals don't touch the zinc there
> >> couldn't be a danger.
>
> > Maybe, but it does not have to melt to cause harm. *It merely has to be
> > ingested. *If you get chips off the sides falling onto the meat. *Or
> > zinc oxide over time. *My guess is that there is not a problem, but I'm
> > not taking the chance.
>
> > Also from Wikipedia
> > The free zinc ion is also a powerful Lewis acid up to the point of being
> > corrosive. Stomach acid contains hydrochloric acid, in which metallic
> > zinc dissolves readily to give corrosive zinc chloride. Swallowing a
> > post-1982 American one cent piece (97.5% zinc) can cause damage to the
> > stomach lining due to the high solubility of the zinc ion in the acidic
> > stomach.[3]
>
> > There is evidence of induced copper deficiency at low intakes of 100–300
> > mg Zn/d. The USDA RDA is 15 mg Zn/d. Even lower levels, closer to the
> > RDA, may interfere with the utilization of copper and iron or to
> > adversely affect cholesterol.[4]
>
> > There is also a condition called the zinc shakes or "zinc chills" that
> > can be induced by the inhalation of freshly formed zinc oxide formed
> > during the welding of galvanized materials.[5]
>
> Ed,
> I hear what your saying

No, you are not.

>and have to say that from personal experience
> IMHO I think this zinc thing is over stated as long as the fuel isn't on
> the zinc coated metal, as a child, my family had occasional get
> together's and there was always a brand new zinc coated garbage can
> cooking away over flames,
> filled with beer and water as well as cabbage,
> sausage, etc for great boiled dinners, never did anyone get ill.

Great reasoning, "didn't get enough poisoning to become ill or die, so
it's all good."

> I'm not
> telling anyone to do this nor telling anyone to make a cooker out of a
> garbage can, but i do think it can be done and done safely

You "believe", you are not thinking, you are believing. Very different
things.

> of the issues. as with all things, my advice to all is to proceed with
> knowledge and take measures to stay safe and healthy.

And what measures would those be? Other than "don't use galvanized
steel with food" ?

Knowing what you know now, would you use a galvanized steel can and
cook up a batch of BBQ for a class of pre-schoolers? A large family
gathering? Why the heck would you?