On Mon, 17 Oct 2005 02:06:44 -0500, wrote:

Is burning copper dangerous?
I am asking because I was camping and tossed some copper dust in the
fire to make the flames colorful. The flames were really nice, but
some drunken guy in the next camp was having a fit about it, saying
that burning copper emits dangerous fumes that when breathed are toxic
and of course, according to him, ALL the smoke was going his
direction. I told the guy to either get lost or to call the police on
us, and they would settle it. (since he was the one that was drunk,
and we were not, I knew that would be fun). Anyhow, I just wanted to
ask and find out if there really is any truth to his claim. (The
idiot packed up and left in the morning, which was great for us,
because we got rid of the moron and had a bigger camp).
.

I did not read all the many post so I hope I'm not repeating something
already said.

Many, many years ago when I was a kid, all there was, was copper
screens on windows. My dad always gave me the job of brushing the
screens off before putting them up for the summer. I did not like the
job because it was work however I liked it even less after I got old
enough to start smoking.

What would happen was the copper oxide would come off as a fine powder
and I would inhale it. Yuck, there is nothing worse than trying to
smoke a cigerete after inhaling copper oxide dust. It destroys the
tast for 2-3 days. Don't smoke now and don't have copper screens.

My guess is, that your drunken neighbor was a smoker that knew this
and you just ruined his smoking evening.

John