Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
(OP)
I know someone who wants to serve lemonade from a galvanized metal bucket (has to do with a party theme). Since the drink will only be in the bucket a short time it won't have time to dissolve much metal but I wondered what it could dissolve besides zinc? Maybe lead or cadmium?? Thanks.





RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
The control hot dip specifications are:
ASTM A-153 Zinc Coating (Hot Dip) on Iron and Steel Hardware
A-123 Zinc (Hot Galvanized) Coatings on Iron and Steel Products.
Electroplating specs are
ASTM-B-633:
Type I, II, and III
QQP-416, Revision F:
Type I and II
Class 1,2 and 3
MIL-STD-171-D
The zinc is a heavy metal that reacts with acids. Lemon is a weak citrus acid. So....
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
The sewer department wanted us to test our discharge for metals. There wasn’t much discharge so they wanted us to collect it for a week. We got a plastic 55-gallon drum to collect it.
We collected it and the zinc was horribly high. The level was much greater than would be accounted for by the process or by evaporation of the tap water we were using. We had the water tested and consulted experts.
What had happened is that the employee was told to cut the top off the plastic barrel and dump the waste in it. Instead he went to the hardware store and bought a lovely cold process zinc coated funnel.
As other have stated, there are different ways to galvanize. I can tell you one method means a small amount of liquid can leach out a large amount of zinc just by being poured over it once.
We have a washtub we use for parties. We fill it with ice and put bottles in it. (We also put a washboard in it. Amazing the number of people who have never seen one and don’t believe the explanation.) Also, you might try a restaurant supply store. They ought to have a container you can use as a liner.
Tom
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
12 x 14 = 168mg / day
and should not be taken more than 7 days in a row...
Hmmm...
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
Maybe I should have made it clearer. This was elemental zinc and the health dept, measures in ppm. PPM for something that concentrates in the body can be significant. About half of what is essential in my morning vitamin pill is illegal if I expose my employees to it.
I got a certificate in environmental management, In our law class one of the attorneys said “It doesn’t have to make sense, It’s the law”
Tom
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
"Intakes of 150 to 450 mg of zinc per day have been associated with low copper status, altered iron function, reduced immune function, and reduced levels of high-density lipoproteins. So why risk it?"
and not your post (which was very informative, and I thoughly enjoyed reading, by the way).
And I really like your: "About half of what is essential in my morning vitamin pill is illegal if I expose my employees to it."
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
It goes back to: "a little of a good this is great, too much is .." The data in zinc toxity comes from the USDA.
The envirmental risk assessments we now conduct, are lowering and lowering the exposure limits of heavy metal employees are allowed too have. Sorry if I'm offbase, maybe it is all the mercury I played with as a kid (out thermometers now outlawed).
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
I just thought it was interesting that FDA had apparently apporved a (temporary) dosage level that was in excess of what the USDA has indentified as potentially harmful (for extnded periods?). The closeness of the maximum dosage to the USDA numbers would appear to imply that there potentially some connection. Maybe we really should "read and follow label directions" after all.
As we learn all the things that are harmful to us, I never ceased to be amazed that I've lived as long as I have. I fully expect to drop dead tomorrow, but I'm not going to go too far out of my way to to prove the doomsayers wrong by deliberately (over)exposing myself.
All things in moderation...
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
pond. over here, it is considered normal to add up to 5%
aluminium to our Hot Dip Zinc Galvanising bath.
So....'Alzheimers Anyone ??' What with all the 'E numbers'
preservatives, anti-oxidants, artificial colourants, sweeteners, and artificial flavourings, and possibly Genetically Modified Lemons used to make the 'lemonade' I
personally wouldnt worry too much about what the drink will pick up from the bucket, its the buckets ability to withstand the chemical cocktail effects I would concern myself with researching...! ;-P)
Regards, (With Tongue FIRMLY PLANTED in my Cheek)
Rembrandt.
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
Tom
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
This reminded me of some examples I use when explaining to people that too much of anything can be bad. For example, we know we need oxygen, but if you breath too much pure oxygen it becomes poisonous. It's possible to drink too much water too.
Things have to be in the right forms too. For this example, think of salt, made of sodium metal and chlorine gas. If you breathed chlorine you'd corrode your lungs and could die. If you somehow managed to swallow a piece of sodium metal, your stomach could literally explode in flames. Both these are obvious poisons, but once they touch each other, there's a flash of heat and fire and presto we have ordinary table salt, which we DO need in our diets.
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
"Zinc poisoning is mostly accidental from ...., or drinking of acidic juices or brews made in galvanized iron utensils."
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
Tom
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
Ant
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?
any ideas how this will affect the food - zinc poisoning shakes.
Has anyone any guidliens if this is safe or not?
RE: Does zinc galvanizing contain other heavy metals?