Odd isn't it - I've used it for years and have never noticed any dissolving of the steel. In the case of brass I would be concerned that it might de-zincify it, as happens to under ground brass water fittings that eventually become porous.
When I rebuilt my 60 ton EPCO press, it had been in a bad fire then left in the open for several years, and the four 1.5" steel acme threaded platen raising screws were solidly rusted into their bronze nuts.
I was able to rise the platen with the fork lift leaving the huge bronze nuts low down, then put each in a bucket of citric acid that was saturated, initially hot, and regularly changed over ultimately about five weeks before they were all freed. Then I was able to remove each screw and further soak them for days on end in citric acid in a length of 110 mm soil pipe bunged at one end.
Despite having been in the citric acid for best part of two months those acme screws still fit nicely on the nuts and are now in use.