It's definitely not a good idea, but it does take a lot of heat for it to become a problem.
The noxious fumes are zinc oxide, zinc must be heated above 1665 degrees F to vaporize, combine with oxygen and form zinc oxide.
The melting point of zinc is 787. When I worked in a foundry the zinc for hot dipped galvanizing was kept at right around 800 degrees, no irritating fumes from that!!
FWIW, Here's a video of a hot-dipped galvanizing zinc bath, much the same as it was in the foundry.
As you can see, there's no special respiratory protection required.
Years ago, many of the Cornell chicken cookers aaround here were made from galvanized stuff, not a good idea, but it was prevelent.
Just one of the many stupid ideas coming out of Universities! :biggrin:
People will listen to what they want to hear, people will believe what they want to believe, the best you can do is offer a heads-up.
~Martin
