Dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) and hydrogen hydroxide (HOH) are technically accurate but rarely-used names for water. They are a running joke among chemists, about environmental activists and others, to illustrate how general ignorance of science can lead to wildly misplaced fears.
The list of supposed risks associated with dihydrogen monoxide include:
- The substance is a major component of acid rain;
- Contributes to soil erosion;
- Causes corrosion and breakdown of metals and electrical equipment;
- Excessive ingestion may cause various unpleasant, though generally not life-threatening, effects;
- Prolonged contact with its solid form results in severe tissue damage;
- Inhalation, even in small quantities, may cause death;
- Its gaseous form may cause severe burns;
- It has been found in the tumors of terminal cancer patients;
- Nevertheless, the government and corporations continue using it widely, heedless of its grave dangers.
External links
