I think we need the penny. However, there is a serious problem with the penny being >90% zinc. If a child swallows the penny (which many of them do) and it stays in the stomach over two days there a some serious effects of the zinc. First, there is significant erosion of the gastric mucosa causing a major ulcer. The zinc also causes hemolysis of the red blood cells and liver failure primarily and multi system organ failure. The dangerousness of the penny is dependent upon a) if it was made post 1982 and b) if the copper coated penny post 1982 had damage to the copper coating exposing the zinc.
Tennesseans in the legislature need to have their butts reexamined for common sense for continuing to embrace the penny made primarily of zinc.
If Congress wants to do something for the children and little animals, they could go back to making the penny out of copper. I have personally treated many dogs that were dying from penny ingestion and zinc heavy metal poisoning.
If a child swallows the penny (which many of them do) and it stays in the stomach over two days there a some serious effects of the zinc.That's quite alarming information. In the past parents were advised to just let the penny pass. Now there is a whole population of grandparents out there that will be mis-advising their children as to treeatment when the grandchildren swallow their allowance! I think we need a nationwide alert on this situation. :-)