Zinc is one of the most common elements in the earth's crust. Zinc is found in the air, soil, and
water and is present in all foods. In its pure elemental (or metallic) form, zinc is a bluish-white
shiny metal. There is no information on the taste and odor of metallic zinc. Powdered zinc is
explosive and may burst into flames if stored in damp places. Metallic zinc has many uses in
industry. A common use is as coating for iron or other metals so that they do not rust or corrode.
Metallic zinc is also mixed with other metals to form alloys such as brass and bronze. A zinc and
copper alloy is used to make pennies in the United States. Metallic zinc is also used to make dry
Zinc can also combine with other elements, such as chlorine, oxygen, and sulfur, to form zinc
compounds. Zinc compounds that may be found at hazardous waste sites are zinc chloride, zinc
oxide, zinc sulfate, and zinc sulfide. This profile focuses primarily on metallic zinc and commonly
found or used zinc compounds. Most zinc ore found naturally in the environment is in the form of
zinc sulfide. Zinc compounds are widely used in industry. Zinc compounds are not explosive or
flammable. Zinc sulfide is gray-white or yellow-white, and zinc oxide is white. Both of these
compounds are used to make white paints, ceramics, and several other products. Zinc oxide is
also used in producing rubber. Zinc compounds, such as zinc acetate, zinc chloride, and zinc sulfate, are used in preserving wood and in manufacturing and dyeing fabrics. Zinc chloride is
also the major ingredient in smoke from smoke bombs. Zinc compounds are also used by the
drug industry as ingredients in some common products, such as sun blocks, diaper rash ointments,
deodorants, athlete's foot preparations, acne and poison ivy preparations, and antidandruff
Zinc is an essential food element need by the body in small amounts. Too little zinc in the diet can
lead to poor health, reproductive problems, and lowered ability to resist disease. Too much zinc
can be harmful to health. TOP
Fate & Transport
Zinc enters the air, water, and soil as a result of both natural processes and human activities.
Most zinc enters the environment as the result of human activities, such as mining, purifying of
zinc, lead, and cadmium ores, steel production, coal burning, and burning of wastes. These
releases can increase zinc levels in the atmosphere. Waste streams from zinc and other metal
manufacturing and zinc chemical industries, domestic waste water, and run-off from soil
containing zinc can discharge zinc into waterways. The level of zinc in soil increases mainly from
disposal of zinc wastes rom metal manufacturing industries and coal ash from electric utilities. In
air, zinc is present mostly as fine dust particles. This dust eventually settles over land and water.
Rain and snow aid in removing zinc from air. Most of the zinc in bodies of water, such as lakes
or rivers, settles on the bottom. However, a small amount may remain either dissolved in water
or as fine suspended particles. The level of dissolved zinc in water may increase as the acidity of water increases. Some fish can collect zinc in their bodies if they live in water containing zinc.
Most of the zinc in soil is bound to the soil and does not dissolve in water. However, depending
on the characteristics of the soil, some zinc may reach groundwater. Contamination of
groundwater from hazardous waste sites has been noticed. Zinc may be taken up by animals
eating soil or drinking water containing zinc. If other animals eat these animals, they will also
have increased amounts of zinc in their bodies. TOP
We are exposed to small amounts of zinc compounds in food every day. The average daily zinc
intake through the diet in this country ranges from 7 to 16.3 milligrams (mg). Food may contain
levels of zinc ranging from approximately 2 parts of zinc per million (ppm) parts of foods (e.g.,
leafy vegetables) to 29 ppm (meats, fish, poulty). Zinc is also present in most drinking water.
Drinking water or other beverages may contain high levels of zinc if they are stored in metal
containers or flow through pipes that have been coated with zinc to resist rust. Drinking water
may also be contaminated by zinc from industrial sources or toxic waste sites. High-level
exposure to zinc may also result from taking too many zinc dietary supplements. Fetuses and
nursing children may be exposed to the zinc in the blood or milk of their mothers.
In general, levels of zinc in air are relatively low and fairly constant. Average levels of zinc in the
air throughout the United States are less than 1 microgram of zinc per cubic meter
(ug/m3) of air, but range from 0.1 to 1.7 ug/m3 in areas near cities.
Air near industrial areas may have higher levels of zinc. The average zinc concentration for a 1-year period was 5 ug/m3 in one area near an industrial source.
About 150,000 workers are exposed to zinc at their jobs. Jobs where people are exposed to zinc
include zinc mining, smelting, and welding; manufacture of brass, bronze, or other zinc-containing
alloys; manufacture of galvanized metals; and manufacture of machine parts, rubber, paint,
linoleum, oilcloths, batteries, some kinds of glass and ceramics, and dyes. People at construction
jobs, automobile mechanics, and painters are also exposed to zinc. TOP
Zinc can enter the body through the digestive tract if you eat food or drink water containing it.
Zinc can also enter through your lungs if you inhale zinc dust or fumes from zinc-smelting or zinc-welding operations on your job. The amount of zinc that passes directly through the skin is
relatively small. The most likely route of exposure near NPL waste sites is through drinking
water containing a high amount of zinc. Zinc is stored throughout the body. Zinc increases in
blood and bone most rapidly after exposure. Zinc may stay in the bone for many days after
exposure. Normally, zinc leaves the body in urine and feces. TOP
Inhaling large amounts of zinc (as zinc dust or fumes from smelting or welding) can cause a
specific short-term disease called metal fume fever. However, very little is known about the long-term effects of breathing zinc dust or fumes.
Taking too much zinc into the body through food, water, or dietary supplements can also affect
health. The levels of zinc that produce adverse health effects are much higher than the
Recommended Daily Allowances (RDAs) for zinc of 15 mg/day for men and 12 mg/day for
women. If large doses of zinc (10-15 times higher than the RDA) are taken by mouth even for a
short time, stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting may occur. Ingesting high levels of zinc for
several months may cause anemia, damage the pancreas, and decrease levels of high-density
lipoprotein (HDL) chlolesterol. We do not know if high levels of zinc affect the ability of people
to have babies or cause birth defects in humans.
Eating food containing very large amounts of zinc (1,000 times higher than the FDA) for several
months caused many health effects in rats, mice, and ferrets, including anemia and injury to the
pancreas and kidney. Rats that ate very large amounts of zinc became infertile. Rats that ate very
large amounts of zinc after becoming pregnant had smaller babies. Putting low levels of certain
zinc compounds, such as zinc acetate and zinc chloride, on the skin of rabbits, guinea pigs, and
mice caused skin irritation. Skin irritation from exposure to these compounds would probably
occur in humans. EPA has determined that zinc is not classifiable as to its human carcinogenicity.
Consuming too little zinc is at least as important a health problem as consuming too much zinc.
Without enough zinc in the diet, people may experience loss of appetite, decreased sense of taste
and smell, decreased immune function, slow wound healing, and skin sores. Too little zinc in the
diet may also cause poorly developed sex organs and retarded growth in you men. If a pregnant
woman does not get enough zinc, her babies may have growth retardation. TOP
Information excerpted from
Toxicological Profile for Zinc May 1994 Update
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
United States Public Health Service