Galvinized buckets, illigal??

[Red Shed Sugaring]

Does anyone know when and if a law against using galvanized buckets will go into affect?

[PerryW]

I heard something about galvanized buckets becoming illegal for organic certification.

[DrTimPerkins]

Does anyone know when and if a law against using galvanized buckets will go into affect?

Galvanized barrels are no longer allowed for syrup storage in Vermont. There hasn't been any talk of banning galvanized buckets that I know of. Organic certification agencies make their own rules, so it would depend on which certifier you use (if you are organic certified).

[spencer11]

I was wondering the same thing, with all of this new FDA stuff they might ban them. Aren't they lead soldered?

[maplecherry]

I heard they are waiting for the US mint to redo the tooling so new quarters can be issued first.;)

[Michael Greer]

So zinc is bad for ya?? I'd better stop taking those suppliments. This sounds like an urban myth.

[happy thoughts]

So zinc is bad for ya?? I'd better stop taking those suppliments. This sounds like an urban myth.

No, it's definitely not a myth. Although small amounts of zinc are required in the diet, just like some vitamins, too much can have toxic effects. One source of zinc toxicity was recently found to be denture adhesives. All zinc was removed from them just a few years ago.

from the cdc web page on zinc toxicity http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=300&tid=54#bookmark04


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 Dietary Allowances (RDAs) for zinc of 11 mg/day for men and 8 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) cholesterol.

Eating food containing very large amounts of zinc (1,000 times higher than the RDA) 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 chemicals would probably occur in humans. EPA has determined that because of lack of information, 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 young men. If a pregnant woman does not get enough zinc, her babies may have birth defects.

[PerryW]

probably the lead solder too.