Health concerns with burning galvanized steel

Health concerns with burning galvanized steel are due to heated steel releasing deadly zinc oxides into the air when heated. Galvanized steel should under no circumstances be utilized for food storage containers or for cookware.

When galvanized steel is heated or when it is welded it produces fumes of zinc oxides which can lead to zinc poisoning, or heavy metal poisoning. High levels of zinc will produce vomiting, dizziness, chills, aching, fever and other flu-like symptoms.
Because onset of the symptoms can take three to ten hours, the sufferer may not relate the cause and result of the inhaled zinc. The damage to the pancreatic and neurological system is reversible with proper treatment.

The symptoms lessen after 48 hours following use of galvanized steel utensils or stoves. Even a fireplace pot stand can contain enough zinc oxide fumes when heated to create the symptoms.

Workers in industries using zinc or zinc products were found to have a higher incidence of occupational asthma than in other professions. Often welders will be found to have a higher level of respiratory ailments of all types, thought to be related to the emission of fumes and particulates during the process of welding.

Health concerns with burning galvanized steel can be remedied by refusing cookware and food storage containers which contain galvanized steel. Although we don’t often think of steel as a food storage material, many stoves and fireplace inserts were found to be made of such material and only relatively recently have laws been enacted to prevent the resale of stoves. These laws were a direct recognition of the danger and an effort to eliminate the further distribution of the stoves.

Once the key element and cause for health concerns with burning galvanized steel is identified, it is difficult to see how it could continue to be a health concern. For this reason, widespread education needs to occur, particularly in industries where workers may be exposed to such dangers. Welders, even those who simply enjoy a home welding project may or may not have been made aware of the danger of welding in enclosed spaces.

The galvanizing process simply dips the steel in melted zinc. The two metals chemically bind on the surface to form a layer of corrosion proof metal and it is the heating process of galvanized steel which results in the release of zinc oxide into the air when heated.

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