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. Zinc is one of the most commonly used metals in the world. Its major uses are for galvanizing steel, producing alloys, and for serving as an ingredient in rubber, ceramics, and paints. Zinc compounds are also used to preserve wood and in manufacturing and dyeing fabrics.
Zinc chloride is the major ingredient in smoke from smoke bombs.
Zinc compounds are 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 anti-dandruff shampoos. 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. Zinc may enter the environment in the discharge from galvanizing plants, as a leachate from galvanized structures and natural ores, and from municipal waste treatment plant discharges. Zinc compounds that may be found at hazardous waste sites include zinc chloride, zinc oxide, zinc sulfate, and zinc sulfide. The level of zinc in soil increases mainly from disposal of zinc wastes from metal manufacturing industries and coal ash from electric utilities.