Letter to the Editor
Ban 'DHMO'
Published Saturday, March 22, 2008
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Stumble It!March 16, 2008
To the editor:
After reading all of the recent fervor over the addition of fluoride into the city water supply, I wanted to do some research and find out what other chemicals might be in the city of Fairbanks water system. I sent some samples (straight from my tap) to a friend of mine who is a professor at University of Nevada-Reno. I will not name him to protect his identity.
I will say however that he is an expert in his field and knows what he is doing. The results of what he found are shocking to say the least.
Each of the five samples I sent had extremely high levels of a chemical known as DHMO, a substance that is known to kill thousands each year.
Fairbanksans beware! Below is a description of the chemical known as DHMO.
Dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as dihydrogen oxide, hydrogen hydroxide, hydronium hydroxide, or simply hydric acid. Its basis is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical, a species shown to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters.
The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as sulfuric acid, nitroglycerine and ethyl alcohol.
Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO because it inhibits the ability of the body to inhale oxygen, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage.
Symptoms of DHMO ingestion in large quantities can include excessive sweating and urination and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance.
Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is still legal. The impact on us and wildlife is extreme, and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer!
Stop the horror: Ban dihydrogen monoxide now!
Editors note: DHMO isn’t a true chemical designation beyond the common joke that it is another name for H20 — or water.
Community Discussion
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LOL!
Is anyone else slightly disturbed that the editor felt a need to tell everyone the author was talking about water??
I'd be disturbed by it, if a city council in California had not once tried to ban the stuff:
http://www.mcgehee.cc/index.php/zone/com...
And Glenner had to make that big appology when he did the smae joke on the radio. Its not the least bit disturbing, people are dumb.
As a father of an autistic child I have researched the products that are made from MERCURY, thiomersal, the chemical that is used as a preservative in vaccines is made from mercury also and is the link that has been established leading to the lawsuits we hear about. DHMO is NOT another name for H20, it is a product that is man made during the process of refining cinnabar (raw mercury) into chlorine based products including bleach and hyrdrogen pyroxid ( hope I spelt that right). It is used as an antiseptic and anti fungal agent AND IS KNOWN TO ALTER DNA INSIDE OF THE HUMAN BONE! The EPA put out an article that talks about the roadmap for mercury reduction since 1993 and one of the main reasons is because they realize that we have been subjected to mercury use in our water, vaccines, even penicillin alternatives including tetracycline (which we fed to our cattle up until the mad cow disease craze to make them fatter). People we need this out of our water, KNOW!
The product that they are talking about is made from mercury (did you read it?) The source of where that mercury has come from, wether products used to clean our water lines or from preservatives in our vaccines or from things we have put into our food; why add something that harms people and does have ties to Autism when there are alternatives available? I also believe that the article is not satirical, what water companies are not required to tell you is in our water supply is scary, March 10th there was an article in the newsminer that discussed this issue more than I will. You may think I am drawing a thin line between these things, and from a point of view I can agree. But to not realize, or at least question, that these things are more closely related would not be prudent in my opinion and if it can be avoided it should.
Having searched the internet$, as I am want to do, I found many references to DHMO. the scourge of the internet$ hoax links. Having had my fill of hydronium, I looked further for something professing a link between mercury and autism as referenced by fellow bad speller and non spell checker johnw612. Yes there are several links there as well.
I think we can all agree that life is fraught with risks and that sometimes the most innocent of us is dragged in against our will. I am sure I have suffered several toxic exposures, but I have tried to minimize those of my kids, as I am sure we all have (Anyone here still smoking? anyone? anyone? Buehler?)
It is correct to revisit our chemical exposures from time to time, fluoride, chlorine, ethanol, nicotine, thc, viagra, lipitor, ginseng, (cant remember what that herbal memory treatment is), monosodium glutamate(I hope I spelt that right), and hydrogen peroxide, and challenge the epidemiologists, chemical manufacturers, and the drug companies to determine what the downside of their products are including the environmental fate.
Its OK, we'll wait.
johnw612,
I'm not sure if you are just spoofing, but if not, you've been had by someone. DHMO is hoax that originated nearly twenty years ago. Here's some links:
A Washington Post article reprinted on a junk science forum:
http://www.junkscience.com/news/glassman...
Information from the always reliable snopes.com:
http://www.snopes.com/science/dhmo.asp
An MSNBC story:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4534017/
An article from the UK Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2004/mar...
And, of course, Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrogen_...
Unfortunately, this hoax has taken on a life of its own. It was designed to point out how scientifically illiterate Americans will fall for things they don't understand.
Lots of time and energy are wasted by governmental bodies when well-meaning but scientifically naive people get going on something they think they understand, but don't. The recent dust-up over fluoride provides just one example.
I have read alot of the ones you refered to, problem is that there is a chemical that has a Material Safety Data Sheet that holds the same name. Yes, the literal translation is two hyrdogen and one oxygen and in disinformation campaigns they use this to make people who have to much on there plate only read half of the article. Go to the EPA, go to the Transportation Administration and find the OTHER listed DHMO. "Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid." I clipped that quote from an article written by a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration employee and a specialist in the feeding of dairy cattle, Dr. Donna Maria Waltz, warns that regulation of DHMO in the dairy industry is lacking. I could find other medical supporting doc's but I dont think that they would impact you any further, you are closed to what you dont already believe, I wonder why scientist have what is called 'on going studies'? Maybe its because studies over longer periods of time show more, but hey twenty years ago we knew so much about medicine that nothing new could have been found since so you must be right.
We are recently learning that there is Mercury in the vaccinations that our government is so anxious that our children take before they go to school. I know for a fact that Mercury is in the TD vacc & the MMR. Now, if you want to, use your brain and take notice of the overwhelming amount of children that have been "different" and the era in which it started. It has gotten so bad that they had to come up with a "name" (autism) for it.
It started as our country determined that our children needed immunizations. As we have went along with the practice we have been overwhelmed with children having this condition.
Then, from my own experience, I can tell you that I had a happy healthy baby that was learning as normally as the rest of my children. I took her in for her 15month vaccinations, and she was never the same. It didn't happen overnight, but that is when the "changes" started. Luckily, over time we have gotten her back to where she is a well functioning teen, although still a bit different from her peers. Some people haven't been as lucky.
No, for some reason it does not affect all children the same (thank God), but, it is painfully obvious there is a connection.
The only thing left for health care providers to figure out is why it affects some children and not others. But, a large group have made the connection also.
john612 - John, I sympathize with your struggles with a challenging and trying disability in your child. Bless you and your family.
There is a reason that there is an MSDS with the same name as DHMO - it's the same thing (possibly a hoax MSDS as well). Look it up on snopes.com (an urban legends webpage). Here's another one besides the DHMO.org > http://www.plasticsmythbuster.org/defaul...
Also, a search of the CDC website, the EPA website and the OSHA website turned up nothing at all on DHMO or Dihydrogen Monoxide. I'm no chemist (if there is one in the house, please inform the uninformed masses, which I may be one today), but I'm pretty sure Dihydrogen Monoxide = H2O = water, which is, yes, used to make other, more harmful substances. Perhaps you could ask your doctors or call the UAF (or any other reputable university) and ask for someone with knowledge of chemistry. Google is pretty cool, but it's not always your best source for information. Correct information is vital for yours and your family's safety.
I wish you and your family luck and strength.
johnw612,
Your EPA article is posted at dhmo.org. This is a spoof site. Either you are perpetuating a joke, or you are falling for one.
non partisan, it is referenced in that site, she actually is a real person that wrote a real study on this due to her relations with the Dairy Industry. Just because her article is referenced there does not mean that is the source, please research with more than google! (IE the EPA material safety data sheets, the Dept of Transportations, and of course why not go look on the CDC website and see if 'water' is how they list it)
I find it amusing that because there website does not support your belief so you disregard them as a spoof, in my opinion (based of your response to me, that aint much but) that is closed minded. I am sure that propoganda of people that have vested interest in keeping things quiet would have been much easier before the internet but that is behind us, so please do look deeper and if you find that i am wrong, THANK GOD! But as long as it is a product that is made (not water, a product)all I ask is that it not be used as an antifungal cleanser in our water system. No conspiracy, just an additive that has potential health risks.
"Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide = deionized water, Hydrogen Hydroxide = no information Hydronium Hydroxide = no information or simply Hydric acid = hydrochloric acid (note that this is NOT the dame as deionized water) (these came from http://www.scorecard.org/chemical-profil... - there is no DHMO or dihydrogen monoxide)
Even better: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/cgi-bin/sen... (a chemical dictionary from a university in Maryland) says it's water sir. Up to you whether you take real information or not.
Dude! IT'S WATER! dihydrogen monoxide - H2O - WATER!!!
(I take it you don't watch Penn & Teller's BS show?)
Its a joke to see how many stupid people are out there, and, guess what? You fell for it! LOL!
I've observed that not all parodies are intentional.
Yesterdays class assignment:
Dihydrogen Monoxide
Dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) is an interesting compound. It is said to be a very dangerous pollutant by some groups. Listed below are some of the reasons given by these groups for wanting it banned from use.
DHMO is the most prevalent greenhouse gas. It causes more global warming than carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and methane combined.
DHMO is a colorless, odorless constituent of many known toxic substances, diseases, and disease-causing agents.
DHMO has lead to many environmental hazards, accelerates erosion, is the primary component of acid rain, and has a profound impact on wild life. The damage is costing billions of dollars.
DHMO has many immediate, personal dangers. Found in volumes as small as a single vial, it can cause second and even third degree burns if it contacts bare skin. Death frequently results from the accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in relatively small amounts.
DHMO has been found in all tumors excised from cancer patients.
DHMO is used in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
Assignments
Before starting these assignments ask your instructor which one or ones you may do.
Visit a minimum of three web sites, gather information on DHMO and write a two page paper (typed) giving your opinion on the matter. As a starter you can use the following web address as one of your sources: http://www.dhmo.org/ .
If after visiting some sites on DHMO you feel that it is a dangerous compound that should be banned, design a petition and see how many people will sign it. (If you feel that DHMO should not be banned, you can circulate a petition to this effect. ) Prepare a typed report.
Conduct a survey getting the opinions of several people on the subject. Analyze the results to see if there is a difference in the opinions of people based on gender, age, education, and profession. Such a survey will probably require that you hand out some information for people to read before they can render an opinion. Prepare a typed report of your results.
THANKS FOR PLAYING!
I recently ran across an alarming report stating that DHMO is widely used in baptisms. As a survivor of infant baptism, I now know what a horrible chance my trusting parents took at the altar of ther local church (actually, they took a horrible chance the very first time they approached that altar together, but that's another story).
Christians: not even Jesus can save you from the scourge of DHMO!
I'm just very sad the the DNM had to add an Editor's note to this letter. Do folks really believe everything they read?
Sure looks like it.
(John - see my post above - THREE websites) (see my next post - two more) (assignment completed)
In March 2004, the small city of Aliso Viejo in Orange County in California put, onto the official agenda of the next meeting of the Council, a motion to ban Styrofoam containers because the toxic chemical, DHMO, was used to make them. This motion was put onto the agenda because an enthusiastic paralegal on the Aliso Viejo City payroll had read of DHMO's evil properties on the internet.
Luckily for the reputation of the City, the motion was withdrawn before it could be voted on.
Why luckily, you ask?
Well, DHMO, DiHydrogen MonOxide, also known as Hydric Acid, Hydronium Hydroxide, is usually called just plain water. First-year University Chemistry students have made laboured jokes about water's chemical properties for years.
But, here's the point about misinformation, or disinformation.
You can give people this totally accurate (but emotionally laden, and sensationalist) information about water. When you then survey these people, about three-quarters of them will willingly sign a petition to ban it. And it doesn't matter where in the world you do the survey.
We live under the illusion that we understand the world around us, but in reality, very few of us can change a car's sparkplugs, or the memory or hard-drive in our computer. Back in 1997, Nathan Zohner from Eagle Rock, Idaho, won a Science Fair Prize for his project. It was called, "How Gullible Are We?"
Perhaps the answer is, "Pretty gullible", depending on our particular field of ignorance.
Dana- I think johnw612 knew that and was screwing with you all, thats what i got anyway
JB - I sure hope so... *shakes head*
JB - Truth is, I can't tell if he's for real - how can anyone be for real on the subject?! And since I can't tell, I'm stuck with this urge to try to save the gentleman from himself - just in case.
If you are right, well, I fell right into it, didn't I? Probably won't be the last time either.
DVD- I do appreciate your passion, but do resist the urge to save folks from themselves. You'll wear yourself out and, rest assured, someone will try try to do the same for you.