Ask the APCC: Are Pennies Toxic?

My friend and I are having a debate over the toxic potential of pennies. I heard that pennies before 1980 are poisonous to pets, but she says it is those minted after 1980. Who is right?
—Joan C.

Your friend is almost correct, Joan! United States pennies minted after 1982 contain 99.2 percent zinc by weight (the remaining 0.8 percent is copper), whereas pennies minted prior to 1982 only contain 5 percent zinc. This is a concern because with ingestions of significant amounts, zinc can cause damage to the kidneys, liver, gastrointestinal tract, and red blood cells. Due to their high zinc content, pennies minted after 1982 are considered to be potentially toxic if ingested by pets.

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