[Sca-cooks] Tin/Pewter Was: Cornish Pasties

[otsisto]

-----Original Message-----
I'm not sure about tin per se, but I do remember about 25 years ago we were
told to avoid using certain types of pewter for cooking or serving hot food
because "tin" could leech into the food and eventually cause some type of
poisoning.

Pewter has lead in it, not tin.

Found this, Wikipedia, take with a grain of salt.
Biologic effects of organic tin compounds
The small amount of tin that is found in canned foods is not harmful to
humans. Certain organic tin compounds, organotin, such as triorganotins (see
tributyltin oxide) are toxic and are used as industrial fungicides and
bactericides.
Biologic effects of organic tin compounds
The small amount of tin that is found in canned foods is not harmful to
humans. Certain organic tin compounds, organotin, such as triorganotins (see
tributyltin oxide) are toxic and are used as industrial fungicides and
bactericides.
"Biologic effects of organic tin compounds
The small amount of tin that is found in canned foods is not harmful to
humans. Certain organic tin compounds, organotin, such as triorganotins (see
tributyltin oxide) are toxic and are used as industrial fungicides and
bactericides."

>From an article from Lenntech
"Health effects of tin
Tin is mainly applied in various organic substances. The organic tin bonds
are the most dangerous forms of tin for humans. Despite the dangers they are
applied in a great number of industries, such as the paint industry and the
plastic industry, and in agriculture through pesticides. The number of
applications of organic tin substances is still increasing, despite the fact
that we know the consequences of tin poisoning.
The effects of organic tin substances can vary. They depend upon the kind of
substance that is present and the organism that is exposed to it.
Triethyltin is the most dangerous organic tin substance for humans. It has
relatively short hydrogen bonds. When hydrogen bonds grow longer a tin
substance will be less dangerous to human health. Humans can absorb tin
bonds through food and breathing and through the skin.
The uptake of tin bonds can cause acute effects as well as long-term
effects.

Acute effects are:
- Eye and skin irritations
- Headaches
- Stomachaches
- Sickness and dizziness
- Severe sweating
- Breathlessness
- Urination problems

Long-term effects are:
- Depressions
- Liver damage
- Malfunctioning of immune systems
- Chromosomal damage
- Shortage of red blood cells
- Brain damage (causing anger, sleeping disorders, forgetfulness and
headaches)"