April 07, 2005
Thursday

While we all sit here and talk about the mundane, and give the back and forth on things like wage wars, there are serious, and potentially deadly things that need our immediate attention!

I came across a site recently that opened my eyes to the threat of which I speak: Dihydrogen Monoxide. The name alone sounds toxic, doesn't it? The following information is taken from the site: http://www.dhmo.org/

Dihydrogen Monoxide can be highly volatile chemical compound, depending on its state of matter. In a solid, it can cause serious damage to the soft tissues of human flesh. In a gas, it can burn you severely. In its liquid format, it is used in various industries, from Nuclear Power Plants, to Fish Canneries.

Yes even our Canneries here in town use this noxious compound! It's used in many areas here in Ketchikan, all the construction companies use it, as well as all the hair salons! Even the grocery stores use it to a degree!

Here are some other uses of DHMO:

• as an industrial solvent and coolant,
• in nuclear power plants,
• by the U.S. Navy in the propulsion systems of some older vessels,
• by elite athletes to improve performance,
• in the production of Styrofoam,
• in biological and chemical weapons manufacture,
• as a spray-on fire suppressant and retardant,
• in abortion clinics,
• as a major ingredient in many home-brewed bombs,
• as a byproduct of hydrocarbon combustion in furnaces and air conditioning compressor operation,
• in cult rituals

This group, DHMO.org, wants to ban its use commercially and industrially, what do you all think about this? Any industry officials care to explain their actions in using this substance in our community?

Tyrell Rettke
Ketchikan, AK - USA

 

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