The Horrors of DHMO

There is a tendency for those that are famous or have a large following to use their position as a pulpit. I don't claim to move in the same league as those people, but with the high readership of my Web site, it would be remiss of me not to bring to your aattention one of the scariest chemicals that I have ever come across.
This particular compound is known as dihydrogen monoxide, or DHMO for short. DHMO does occur naturally, but man has managed to produce large amounts of it as a by-product of our modern industrialized society. As a major component of acid rain, scientists believe that DHMO has managed to infiltrate every stream, lake, and ocean worldwide.
DHMO is a colorless, odorless, and tasteless chemical that is responsible for the deaths of thousands of people each year. Accidental inhalation is a leading cause of death due to DHMO. Prolonged exposure to it can produce serious tissue damage. Many people each year suffer from serious burns because of contact with DHMO. Current research has found DHMO in the tumors of cancer patients.
Mankind uses DHMO in many ways. It is a major ingredient in industrial solvents and coolants, is needed for the production of Styrofoam, is used as a fire retardent, and is widely used to distribute pesticides. In fact, DHMO is a component of a number of caustic, explosive, and poisonous compounds.
Scared yet? It only gets worse...
DHMO has even found its way into our food and our drinking water. Dairy farmers feed it to their cows in massive quantities to increase milk production. As a result, nearly every gallon of milk available in the supermarket today contains DHMO, although a handful of companies are now manufacturing DHMO-free milk. Research has shown that DHMO is an excellent preservative of vegetables, and it is widely used in supermarket produce sections. DHMO is also an additive in many shampoos, shaving creams, and bathroom cleansers.
I have been telling my student about DHMO for years, and they have always reacted with horror. That is why I have decided that it is important to let you know. But there is something that you can do to help. Write to your elected representatives and let them know that you want DHMO banned. Let them know about your concerns. Mail them letters of protest; sign petitions; get your community involved. There is a lot that you can do before it is too late.
But wait! Think carefully before you leap. As I mentioned earlier, DHMO is short for dihydrogen monoxide. That is two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom combined into a molecule. Does that sound remotely familiar? Have you ever heard of water?

This is an excerpt from Steve Silverman's second book, Lindbergh's Artificial Heart. To read more of these stories, visit his website at: http://home.nycap.rr.com/useless/ More stories to come!