Bricks do not contain highly toxic compounds. Tests to evaluate the encapsulation of potentially damaging chemicals in waste materials have shown that no toxic compounds are leached from bricks. A brick is a 100 percent inorganic, inert material.

What bricks are safe for cooking?

If the bricks are made of clay and are kiln fired (firebrick or red clay brick) they can be used for a pizza oven, but if they are concrete bricks you should stay away. Clay bricks can withstand the heat from a pizza oven, and concrete bricks can’t.

What are bricks made of?

Clay is still one of the main brick materials, but other common materials are sand and lime, concrete, and fly ash. Calcium silicate bricks, popularly known as sand lime bricks, contain high amounts of sand—about 88–92 percent. The remaining 8–12 percent is mainly lime.