The behavior of various metals exposed to commercial exhaust effluents was studied in different locations in restaurants (at kitchen hoods and in areas of heavy cigarette smoking). The durations of exposure ranged from 4 to 60 weeks. The investigations were performed using chemical procedures and conventional techniques, including x-ray and metallographic studies. The results show that the effluents studied cause fouling and corrosion of some materials. In most cases, the deposits were removed during washing by organic solvents.