US pennies minted after 1983 have 90+% zinc by weight. Many pet cages also contain zinc. Pets and human babies can suffer from zinc toxicosis, which leads to diarrhea, lethargy -tiredness, icterus -jaundice/yellowing pigment of the skin, shock, intravascular hemolysis, hemoglobinuria, cardiac arrhythmias -regular heart rhythm is disrupted, seizures and ultimately death. |
