Large amounts of zinc consumed over a short period may cause stomach cramps, nausea, and vomiting. There is no evidence that zinc causes cancer in humans. Zinc is an essential nutrient needed by the body for growth, development of bones, metabolism, and wound-healing. Too little zinc in the diet also can cause health effects such as loss of appetite, decreased sense of taste and smell, lowered ability to fight off infections, slow growth, slow wound- healing, and skin sores. Awareness of the possible sources of zinc is important in reducing exposure.
Children are particularly at risk if they play in contaminated soil.
Limiting play in contaminated areas and planting grass to provide ground cover can greatly reduce exposure. If you live near a smelter or another zinc-producing industry and your drinking water comes from a private well, you may want to have the water tested for zinc. Public water systems are tested for zinc on a regular basis. If you live near a zinc smelter or another industry that produces zinc, you also may want to have your garden soil tested. Zinc can be measured in blood, feces, urine, and hair.