Looking for something to be concerned about? Try this. The chemical compound "dihydrogen monoxide" is commonly used in home, garden and industry, and it has quite a resume. Here are a few of the known facts, hazards, and problems associated with it.
- It can cause excessive sweating and vomiting
- It's a major component in acid rain
- It can cause severe burns in its gaseous state
- It can be fatal if inhaled
- It contributes to erosion
- It's corrosive to certain metals and dissolves many other substances on contact
- It decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes
- It has been found in tumors of terminal cancer patients
At the present time there are very few controls on this substance, and few government officials seem to be concerned with regulating its use. Sound scary? Well, read on. the scariest part is still to come.
A ninth grader at Eagle Rock Junior High won first prize at the Greater Idaho Falls Science Fair, April 26, 1997 with a project in which he urged people to sign a petition demanding strict control or total elimination of dihydrogen monoxide.
He asked 50 people if they supported a ban of the chemical. Forty-three said yes, six were undecided, and only one knew that the chemical was water.
The title of his prize winning project was, "How Gullible Are We?"
- Adapted from e-mail from Jason Kelly
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