Facts About Dihydrogen Monoxide (2024)

FAQs

• What is Dihydrogen Monoxide?
  
• Should I be concerned about Dihydrogen Monoxide?
  
• Why haven't I heard about Dihydrogen Monoxide before?
  
• What are some of the dangers associated with DHMO?
  
• What are some uses of Dihydrogen Monoxide?
  
• What is the link between Dihydrogen Monoxide and gun violence?
  
• How does Dihydrogen Monoxide toxicity affect kidney dialysis patients?
  
• Are there groups that oppose a ban on Dihydrogen Monoxide?
  
• Has the press ignored this web site andthe Dihydrogen Monoxide problem?
  
• Is it true that using DHMO improves athletic performance?
  
• Can using Dihydrogen Monoxide improve my marriage?
  
• What are the symptoms of accidental Dihydrogen Monoxide overdose?
  
• What is a chemical analysis of Dihydrogen Monoxide
  
• What can I do to minimize the risks?
  
• How can I find out more about Dihydrogen Monoxide?
  

Frequently Asked Questions About Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) What is Dihydrogen Monoxide?

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, explosiveand poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and EthylAlcohol.

For more detailed information, including precautions, disposalprocedures and storage requirements, refer to one of the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) available for DHMO:

• Chem-Safe, Inc. MSDS for Dihydrogen Monoxide
• Applied Petrochemical Research MSDS for Hydric Acid
• Original DHMO.org Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for Dihydrogen Monoxide (html)

Should I be concerned about Dihydrogen Monoxide?

Yes, you should be concerned about DHMO! Although the U.S. Government andthe Centers for Disease Control (CDC) do not classify Dihydrogen Monoxide as a toxic orcarcinogenic substance (as it does with better known chemicals such ashydrochloric acid and benzene), DHMO is a constituent of many known toxicsubstances, diseases and disease-causing agents, environmental hazardsand can even be lethal to humans in quantities as small as a thimbleful.

Research conducted by award-winning U.S. scientist Nathan Zohnerconcluded that roughly 86 percent of the population supports aban on dihydrogen monoxide. Although his results arepreliminary, Zohner believes people need to pay closer attention to the information presented to them regardingDihydrogen Monoxide.He adds that if more people knew the truth about DHMOthen studies like the one he conducted would not be necessary.

A similar study conducted by U.S. researchersPatrick K. McCluskey and Matthew Kulick also foundthat nearly 90 percent of the citizens participatingin their study were willing to sign a petitionto support an outright ban on the use of Dihydrogen Monoxide in the UnitedStates.

Why haven't I heard about Dihydrogen Monoxide before?

Good question. Historically, the dangers of DHMO, for the most part, havebeen considered minor and manageable. While the more significant dangersof Dihydrogen Monoxide are currently addressed by a number of agencies including FDA,FEMA and CDC, public awareness of the real and daily dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide islower than some think it should be.

Critics of government often cite the fact that many politicians andothers in public office do not consider Dihydrogen Monoxideto be a "politically beneficial"cause to get behind, and so the public suffers from a lack of reliableinformation on just what DHMOis and why they should be concerned.

Part of the blame lies with the public and society at large. Many donot take the time to understand Dihydrogen Monoxide, and what it means to their livesand the lives of their families.

Unfortunately, the dangers of DHMO have increased as world populationhas increased, a fact that the raw numbers and careful research both bearout. Now more than ever, it is important to be aware of just what the dangersof Dihydrogen Monoxide are and how we can all reduce the risks faced by ourselves andour families.

What are some of the dangers associated with DHMO?

Each year, Dihydrogen Monoxideis a known causative component in many thousands of deathsand is a major contributor to millions upon millions of dollars in damageto property and the environment. Some of the known perils of DihydrogenMonoxide are:

Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities. Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage. Excessive ingestion produces a number of unpleasant though not typicallylife-threatening side-effects. DHMO is a major component of acid rain. Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns. Contributes to soil erosion. Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals. Contamination of electrical systems often causes short-circuits. Exposure decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes. Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions. Given to vicious dogs involved in recent deadly attacks. Often associated with killer cyclones in the U.S. Midwest and elsewhere, and in hurricanes including deadly storms in Florida, New Orleans and other areas of the southeastern U.S. Thermal variations in DHMO are a suspected contributorto the El Nino weather effect.

What are some uses of Dihydrogen Monoxide?

Despite the known dangers of DHMO, it continues to be used daily by industry,government, and even in private homes across the U.S. and worldwide. Someof the well-known uses of Dihydrogen Monoxide are:

• as an industrial solvent and coolant,
• in nuclear power plants,
• by the U.S. Navy in the propulsion systems of some oldervessels,
• by elite athletes to improve performance,
• in the production of Styrofoam,
• in biological and chemical weapons manufacture,
• in the development of genetically engineered crops and animals,
• as a spray-on fire suppressant and retardant,
• in so-called "family planning" or "reproductive health" clinics,
• as a major ingredient in many home-brewed bombs,
• as a byproduct of hydrocarbon combustion in furnacesand air conditioning compressor operation,
• in cult rituals,
• by the Church of Scientology on their members and their members' families (although surprisingly, many members recently have contacted DHMO.org to vehemently deny such use),
• by both the KKK and the NAACP during rallies and marches,
• by members of Congress who are under investigation for financial corruption and inappropriate IM behavior,
• by the clientele at a number of bath houses inNew York City and San Francisco,
• historically, in Hitler's death camps in Nazi Germany,and in prisons in Turkey, Serbia, Croatia, Libya, Iraq and Iran,
• in World War II prison camps in Japan, and in prisons inChina, for various forms of torture,
• during many recent religious and ethnic wars in the Middle East,
• by many terrorist organizations including al Qaeda,
• in community swimming pools to maintain chemical balance,
• in day care centers, purportedly for sanitary purposes,
• by software engineers, including those producingDICOM software and other DICOM software tools,
• by popular computer science professors,
• by aspiring young adult fictionwriters andmental health advocates,
• by international travel bloggers,
• by the semi-divine King Bhumibol of Thailand and his many devoted young working girls in Bangkok,
• by the fearsome yet kind and drug-free Hells Angels motorcycle gang,
• by the British Chiropractic Association and the purveyors of the bogus treatments that the BCA promotes,
• by commodities giant Trafigura in their well-publicized and widely-known toxic-waste dumping activities in Ivory Coast,
• in animal research laboratories, and
• in pesticide production and distribution.

What you may find surprising are some of the products and places whereDHMO is used, but which for one reason or another, are not normally madepart of public presentations on the dangers to the lives of our familymembers and friends. Among these startling uses are:

as an additive to food products, including jarred baby food and baby formula, and even in many soups, carbonated beverages and supposedly "all-natural" fruit juices in cough medicines and other liquid pharmaceuticals, in spray-on oven cleaners, in shampoos, shaving creams, deodorants and numerous other bathroom products, in bathtub bubble products marketed to children, as a preservative in grocery store fresh produce sections, in the production of beer by all the major beer distributors, in the coffee available at major coffee houses in the US and abroad, in Formula One race cars, although its use is regulated bythe Formula One Racing Commission, and as a target of ongoing NASA planetary and stellar research.

One of the most surprising facts recently revealed about Dihydrogen Monoxidecontaminationis in its use as a food and produce "decontaminant." Studies have shownthat even after careful washing, food and produce that has been contaminatedby DHMO remains tainted by DHMO.

What is the link between Dihydrogen Monoxide and gun violence?

The incidence of gun violence seems to be rising at an alarming rate.A recent stunning revelation is that in every singleinstance of violence involving guns, both in the U.S. and internationally,Dihydrogen Monoxide was involved. In fact, DHMO is oftenvery available to those who would do harm to others.Meanwhile, apparently no efforts have been made to limit the availabilityof this potentially dangerous chemical compound.

How does Dihydrogen Monoxide toxicity affect kidney dialysis patients?

Unfortunately, DHMO overdose is not unheard of in patientsundergoing dialysis treatments for kidney failure. Dihydrogen Monoxide overdose in these patients can result in congestive heartfailure, pulmonary edema and hypertension. In spite ofthe danger of accidental overdose and the inherenttoxicity of DHMO in large quantities for this group, there is a portion of the dialysis treatedpopulation that continues to use DHMO on a regular basis.

Are there groups that oppose a ban on Dihydrogen Monoxide?

In spite of overwhelming evidence, there is one group in California thatopposes a ban on Dihydrogen Monoxide. TheFriendsof Hydrogen Hydroxide is a group that believes that thedangers of DHMO have been exaggerated. Members claimthat Dihydrogen Monoxide, or the less emotionally charged and morechemically accurate term they advocate for it, "HydrogenHydroxide," is beneficial, environmentally safe, benignand naturally occurring. They argue that efforts to banDHMO are misguided. Friends of Hydrogen Hydroxide is supported by theScorched Earth Party, a radical and loosely-organizedCalifornia-based group. Sources close to the ScorchedEarth Party deny any outside funding from government,industry or pro-industry PACs.

Has the press ignored this web site andthe Dihydrogen Monoxide problem?

For the most part, the press has not reported on the dangersof Dihydrogen Monoxide as much as some would like. Althoughmany private individuals have put up web sites in a majorgrassroots effort to spread the word, major publicationshave not.

Recently, attention has been paid to the subject thanks to an incident in Aliso Viejo, California. This so-called Aliso Viejo Incident was widely reported in the media, although the director of DHMO.org, Dr. Tom Way, was called a "prankster." Once the Associated Press started circulating the story, it became fact, and the valuable information being provided by the DHMO.org website was deemed to be "rubbish" rather than an honest and unbiased recounting of facts about a dangerous, life-endangering chemical compound.

If you are a member of the press, you may access our onlinePress Kit. See themain page for access information. This resource is for members of the press only.

Is it true that using DHMO improves athletic performance?

Absolutely! With the numerous allegations of amateur andprofessional athletes using anabolic steroids and/orblood doping to enhance performance,virtually no attention has been paid to the performanceenhancing properties of Dihydrogen Monoxide. It is perhaps the sportingworld's dirtiest of dirty little secrets that athletesregularly ingest large quantities of DHMO in an effort to gain acompetitive edge over an opponent.

One technique commonly used by endurance athletes insports such as distance running and cycling is to takea large amount of DHMO immediately prior to a race.This is known within racing circles to dramaticallyimprove performance.

Sports-medicine physicians warn that ingestingtoo much Dihydrogen Monoxide can lead to complications and unwantedside-effects, but do acknowledge the link toimproved performance. DHMO is not currently considereda banned substance, so post-race urine tests do notdetect elevated or abnormal levels of DHMO.

Can using DHMO improve my marriage?

This is a popular myth, but one which is also actuallysupported by a number of scientific facts. Dihydrogen Monoxide playsan instrumental role in the centers of the brainassociated with feelings of emotional attachment and love. Married couples have found that regular ingestion of DHMO can improve their marriage-related activities, while couples that never ingest DHMO often find that their marriage suffers as well.

What are the symptoms of accidental Dihydrogen Monoxide overdose?

You may not always recognize that you have been a victim of accidentalDHMO overdose, so here are some signs and symptoms to look for. If yoususpect Dihydrogen Monoxide overdose, or if you exhibit any of these symptoms, you shouldconsult with your physician or medical practitioner. The datapresented here is provided for informational purposes only, andshould in no way be construed as medical advice of any sort.

Watch for these symptoms: Excessive sweating Excessive urination Bloated feeling Nausea Vomiting Electrolyte imbalance Hyponatremia (serum hypotonicity) Dangerously imbalanced levels of ECF and ICF in the blood Degeneration of sodium homeostasis

A recently noted medical phenomenon involves small amounts of DHMO leakingor oozing from the corners of the eyes as a direct result of causes suchas foreign particulate irritation, allergic reactions including anaphylacticshock, and sometimes severe chemical depression.

What is a chemical analysis of Dihydrogen Monoxide

Recently, German analytical chemist Christoph von Bueltzingsloewen at the Universitaet Regensburgidentified what may be key reasons why the dangers of DHMO areever present. According to von Bueltzingsloewen, thechemical separation of dihydrogenoxide from the hazardousoxygendihydride is extremely difficult. The two similarcompounds curiously occur in nearly equimolar distributionwherever they are found. It is not clear how the twocontribute directly to the dangers inherent in Dihydrogen Monoxide,although von Bueltzingsloewen believes that a synergeticmechanism, catalyzed by traces of hydrogenhydroxide, playsa major role.

What can I do to minimize the risks?

Fortunately, there is much you can do to minimize your dangers due to Dihydrogen Monoxideexposure. First, use common sense. Whenever you are dealing withany product or food that you feel may be contaminated with DHMO, evaluatethe relative danger to you and your family, and act accordingly. Keep inmind that in many instances, low-levels of Dihydrogen Monoxide contamination are not dangerous,and in fact, are virtually unavoidable. Remember, the responsibilityfor your safety and the safety of your family lies with you.

Second, exercise caution when there is the potential for accidentalinhalation or ingestion of DHMO. If you feel uncomfortable, remove yourselffrom a dangerous situation. Better safe than sorry.

Third, don't panic. Although the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide are very real,by exercising caution and common sense, you can rest assured knowing thatyou are doing everything possible to keep you and your family safe.

How can I find out more about Dihydrogen Monoxide?

We would be happy to tell you more about DHMO! ,and we'll gladly attempt to keep you up-to-date on current developmentsin the study of Dihydrogen Monoxide, its uses and misuses.

There are a number of sites on the world wide web that contain moreinformation on DHMO and related topics. It should be noted that we do not endorse these sites,nor do we control their content or political bias.

Links to related information

DHMO web sites

• Coalition to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide
• Friends ofHydrogen Hydroxide (DHMO supporters)
• MaterialSafety Data Sheet

Environmental & Safety Information

• SafetyBiz.com - Safety Engineer Jay Preston, expert in safety services and accident prevention
• Clean Air Engineering - promoting environmental responsibility and economic prosperity

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