Zinc and Sustainable Development

Aquatic life needs zinc too

Nowadays, it is essential to understand the environmental implications of the use of industrial products and processes. The principal raw material used in the galvanizing process is zinc. It is widely accepted that humans need zinc and much has been published on zincs role as an essential element for mammals and man in particular. It has even been recently suggested that a lack of zinc may be associated with juvenile delinquency and that young offenders institutions should implement a policy of zinc supplements! Evidence is now emerging that organisms in our aquatic environment can also suffer if they do not receive sufficient zinc.

The human body needs zinc

The beneficial effects of zinc have been known for a long time, especially in the healing of wounds. Our body rapidly concentrates zinc around a fresh wound and inside the newly formed scab. Zinc is active in the healing process.

The highest concentrations of zinc in the human body are found in our reproductive organs. Zinc is present in more than 300 hormones and enzymes which contribute to the human body's life processes. No other metal is as important for these vital functions. These hormones and enzymes regulate wound healing, digestion, reproduction, sight, respiration, kidney function, sugar balance, taste and many other functions. But zinc deficiency can occur in people, animals and plants.Bde The symptoms of deficiency are retarded growth, lowered immunity, weakness, slow wound healing and hair growth, and skin disorders. A typical adult needs about 15mg zinc every. Normally, this is
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Zinc in man
Sperm Blood Perspiration Gall Prostate Muscles Liver Brain 150 mg/l 7 mg/l 1,1 mg/l 0,35 mg/l 400 mg/kg 220 mg/kg 210 mg/kg 70 mg/kg obtained from food. Foodstuffs which are important sources of zinc are red meat, offal and wholemeal bread. In a way zinc serves as a 'corrosion protection' of our body by keeping our skin intact. For this reason zinc is common in medicines, skin creams, ointments for cuts and scratches, powders and sunscreens.Drfr

Mothers milk 2 mg/l

An adult human contains a total of about 2kg metal. Zinc makes up about 2.5g of this. Therefore, the population of Sweden consumes about 34 tonnes of zinc each year to supply its needs. Even this is not the best level. Forty tonnes might be better.

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Zinc in nature
Animals and plants need zinc to exist. Zinc has the same role in plants as it has in human beings. It stimulates the hormones and enzymes which regulate the various functions of life.

The higher an organism is in the chain of nutrition, the bigger is its ability is to regulate its intake of zinc. In man, mammals and birds this regulation is so highly developed that abnormally high levels of zinc almost never appear. When steel is galvanized the zinc does not just form an outer shell. When steel is dipped into molten zinc, iron andzinc uptakean alloy which has excellent adhesion to the steel. Almost no In plants any excess zinc form is usually stored for use at a later date. other coating has this property.

Zinc - a self-repairing protection against rust

Zinc in our environment

Beef Soil Forest soil Cod Potatoes Wheat flour Rain water Ground water Milk River water The Baltic Sea 170 mg/kg 70 mg/kg 55 mg/kg 22 mg/kg 20 mg/kg 8 mg/kg 0,010 mg/l 0,010 mg/l 4 mg/l 0,004 mg/l 0,001 mg/l
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On the other hand, zinc deficiency may retard growth in animals and bring about changes to the skin. Therefore, zinc is added to the food given to our domestic animals. Many plants are known to develop symptoms of zinc deficiency quite easily. These include beans, onions, wheat, corn and some fruit trees.

Prepared By, M.Sreedhar patnaik Zinc deficiency is common in agricultural land which has been fertilised, but spreading

manure on the fields creates a natural recycling of zinc. In some cases zinc serves to protect plants. For example, if the soil has a high cadmium content, zinc blocks the effect of cadmium intake. If the soil is deficient in zinc crops may have an elevated cadmium level, which is undesirable.

Zinc and Sustainable Development

Damage in zinc layer Damage to a paint coating
Paint coating: The steel corrodes at the point of damage, and rust creeps under the paint, lifting it from the steel surface. Corrosion may continue unseen until the steel has been damaged severely.

Zinc coating: A galvanic cell forms around the point of damage. Corrosion products from the surrounding zinc are deposited on the damaged site, preventing corrosion of the underlying steel. If the zinc layer should be damaged by accident (which is difficult to do), galvanizing has the unique property that it 'self repairing'. Two different metals are exposed at the point of damage, which sets up a galvanic current. This causes the zinc to corrode preferentially, sacrificing itself and protecting the steel.

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Zinc saves resources

There are many different techniques for protecting steel products and fabrications with zinc. One of these is hot dip galvanizing. In this process steel products are immersed in a bath of molten zinc at 460oC. Hot dip galvanizing gives steel an inexpensive corrosion protection and a long life. The life of hot dip galvanized steel depends on the thickness of the zinc layer and the presence of pollution in the air to which it is exposed. The cost of owning or operating any steel structure depends on the extent to which maintenance is needed during its life.

Can zinc be dangerous?

There is no evidence to show that man, animals and plants are exposed to too much zinc. Even in places where zinc levels in the environment have been increased by past industrial activity - for example, close to old zinc mines - investigation have shown there are no negative effects. In fact, tests show there is more danger of zinc deficiency.

Reduction of maintenance is especially important for steel structures which are hard to get at, including power transmission towers, local electricity distribution and telephone poles, bridges, ski lifts and so on.

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Symptoms of zinc deficiency in man:
- Reduced senses of taste and smell - Longer time for skin healing - Increased sensitivity to infections - Decreased fertility - Retarded growth in children - Deterioration of mental function, Loss of appetite -Deterioration of night vision, Hair loss The risk that man, animals and plants will be exposed to too much zinc is small. This is because almost all life has developed in an environment which contains zinc, and the amount retained in our bodies and in plants is regulated by the natural functions of nature (homeostatic mechanisms). As a result, our bodies keep only the amount which is needed for good health. In fact, in some forest and agricultural soils there is not enough zinc for the best growth of trees and crops.

How long does zinc last ?

No one really knows the size of the world's zinc resources, but new deposits are found all the time due to the exploration activity of mining companies. At the same time, the amount of zinc which is recycled from old uses to new products is increasing too. The best estimates say the world's reserves of economically recoverable zinc ores are about 3,400 million tonnes, equal to about 400 years of use even if no recycling took place.

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Production of zinc
Zinc is extracted electrolytically from zinccontaining solutions prepared by crushing and leaching zinc ores. The process produces very pure zinc metal and the energy used in production is low compared to some other commonly used metals. The zinc production process produces by-products which are used in other applications. But the extent to which zinc is recycled is increasing thanks to better recycling techniques. As industry adapts to the recycling society the need to produce new zinc from ores will decrease. As a result there is no shortage of zinc resources and zinc is not in short supply.

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Zinc- a recyclable metal

Zinc is a silver coloured metal which melts at 420oC. It is obtained from zinc-containing natural ores such as zinc blende and calamine.

Zinc is usually delivered to the market as ingots of 99.995 per cent purity.

Zinc and Sustainable Development

7 Facts You Should Know

1.Zinc is Natural

Zinc is a gift of nature for the benefit of mankind. It exists naturally in air, water and soil. Zinc is present everywhere in the environment and is continuously mobalised and transported by natural processes such as erosion, forest fires, aerosol formation above the sea and volcanic eruptions.

2.Zinc is Essential in the Environment

All life on earth has evolved in the presence of zinc, which is used by nature for many biological processes. All living organisms - including man, animals, fish, plants and micro-organisms - need zinc for growth and development. Zinc intake is regulated by each organisms natural processes.

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3.Zinc Protects Steel
One of zincs most remarkable characteristics is its ability to protect steel against corrosion. Corrosion is a drain on the economy, estimated to cost at least 4% of GDP in industrialised countries. The life and durability of steel is greatly improved when coated with zinc. No other material known to man can provide such efficient and cost-effective protection for steel.

4.Zinc Helps Save Resources

By protecting steel against corrosion and prolonging its useful life, zinc helps save the energy that would otherwise be needed to frequently replace corroded steel structures and manufactured goods. It has been estimated, for example, that the use of zinc coated steel in Sweden saves the country the energy equivalent of one nuclear power plant each year. Thus, by contributing to lower energy consumption, the use of zinc to protect steel impacts positively on the problem of climate change. Life-cycle costing of public infrastructure shows how significant the savings are: longer service life, lower maintenance costs, longer payback on investment.

5.Zinc is Recyclable
Today, over 30% of the global zinc supply comes from recycled zinc, recovered from both new and old scrap. 80% of all the zinc used today will be recycled sooner or later. Due to the long life span of many zinc products over 100 years in some cases much of the zinc used in the past is still in service. Zinc recycling technology is advancing and the supply of zinc available for recycling is growing too. Zinc can be recycled indefinitely, without loss of its physical or chemical properties, thus constituting a valuable and sustainable resource for future generations.

6.Zinc Protects Human Health

Recent advances in medical science are revealing the importance of zinc for the proper functioning of the immune system, the transfer of nervous signals, the expression of genes and many other vital functions. Zinc supplementation is proving successful in the fight against major causes of child mortality such as diarrhea, pneumonia and malaria. Zinc is known to be vital to the functioning of

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more than 300 enzymes in the human body. Research is also showing, however, that as much as half the worlds population is at risk from zinc deficiency, with even greater numbers at risk in developing countries and among poor populations. Zinc supplementation is proving to be an effective and cheap intervention that can greatly improve the health status of groups at risk.

7.Zinc Contributes to Societys Wellbeing

Zinc is used to purify water, thus contributing a small solution to one of the great environmental problems of the planet. Recyclable zinc-air batteries successfully power electric vehicles, offering another solution to the problem of urban air quality. Zinc is a major constituent of brass, a health protective metal due to its bacteriostatic qualities. Zinc is an important pharmaceutical ingredient, providing daily skin care and protection against the harmful rays of the sun. Zinc is needed in fertilizers that boost crop yields and so help feed the worlds growing population. And zinc is present everyday, everywhere in our homes and household appliances, fittings, tools and toys, in our offices and computers, our cars, trains and planes.

10 GOOD REASONS FOR HOT DIP GALVANIZING

1. COMPETITIVE FIRST COST For most applications the cost of galvanizing is lower than that of applying alternative coatings. Furthermore galvanizing has been getting steadily cheaper compared with painting.
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2. LOWEST LIFETIME COST Low initial cost and long life make galvanizing the most versatile and economic way of protecting steel for long periods. There are bonuses from no maintaince or extended maintenance intervals; fewer problems of access in remote areas, diffi- cult terrain or when buildings are
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Zinc and Sustainable Development

The reason is simple: alternatives particularly painting- are very labour intensive compared with galvanizing which is highly mechanized, closely controlled factory process. 3. LONG LIFE Well documented years of experience have proved the benefits of hot dip galvanized protection. At least 20 - 40 years are commonplace in industrial and marine environments, 50 - 100 years in less aggresive atmospheres. closely packed together; also when there are safety restrictions e.g. electricity pylons.

4. THREE-WAY PROTECTION Galvanized coatings protect steel in three ways. Firstly, the coating weathers at a very slow rate giving a long and predictable life. Secondly, the coating corrodes preferentially to provide cathodic protection (sacrificial) to any small areas of steel exposed through drilling, cutting or accidental damage; scratches are sealed by weathering pro- ducts from the zinc. Thirdly, if the damage area are one day. larger, the sacrificial protection prevents the sideways creep of rust which can undermine paint coatings. 6. EASE OF INSPECTION Galvanized steel simplifies inspection ot the protective finish. The nature of the process is such that if the coating looks continuous and sound, it is so. Thicknesses (weights) - simply specified through EN-ISO 1461 or regular, predictable and simply specified. Galva-national standards - can be easily checked with a magnetic probe or other simple non- destructive testing gauge.

5. SPEED AT APPLICATION A full protection coating can be applied in A 4-coat paint system requires a week

7. RELIABILITY The process is relatively simple, straightforward and closely controlled. The thicknesses of coatings formed nizing is one of the coatings which is completely defi- ned by DS/ISO 1461, NS 1978, SFS 2765 or SS 3583.

8. FASTER CONSTRUCTION Galvanized steel is ready for use. No further site surface preparation, painting, touch up or inspection necessary. Once erected the galvanized steel is ready for use: and cladding can begin immediately, thus accelerating the construction programme.

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9. COATING TOUGHNESS Galvanizing is unique: the hot dip process produces a coating which is bonded metall- urgically to the steel. No other coating pro- cess has this feature and as a result galva- nized steel has by far the greatest resistance to mechanical damage during handling, storage, transport and erection - an important factor where steelwork is to be shipped across the world. Furthermore the toughness of this protection makes it particurly suitable for use in situations where abrasion could be a problem. 10. COMPLETE COVERAGE Because it is formed by dipping steel in molten zinc all parts of the surface of the steel are coated - inside, outside, awkward corners and narrow gaps which would be impossible to protect in any other way. In addition the coating builds up at vital corners and edges - rather than thinning out as do brushed, sprayed and other dipped coatings..

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