Should Dihydrogen Monoxide be banned?

Before I was able to determine if Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) should be banned from use or not, I had to find out what exactly DHMO was. Dihydrogen Monoxide, also known as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid, is a colorless, odorless and tasteless chemical compound. It has a boiling point of 10ºC (212ºF) and a melting point of 0ºC (32ºF).

Some of the dangers associated with Dihydrogen Monoxide are severe tissue damage due to prolonged exposure to its solid form, can cause severe burns in gaseous form, and if accidental inhaled leads to death. DHMO is found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions. Sign of ingestion include extreme sweating, urination or vomiting, and for those who have developed a reliance on DHMO, total withdrawal means certain death. It’s a major component in acid rain, the “greenhouse effect”, killer cyclones, and El Nino. Dihydrogen Monoxide also contributes to soil erosion, decreases the effectiveness of automobile brakes and leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals. Dihydrogen Monoxide has been implicated in the deaths of thousands of Americans every year.

With all the dangers associated with Dihydrogen Monoxide what could possible be the government’s reasoning for the use of this chemical compound. DHMO is used as a spray-on fire suppressant and retardant, an industrial solvent and coolant, and is used in nuclear power plants. DHMO is used in the production of Styrofoam, used in abortion clinics, and is part of animal research.

Dihydrogen Monoxide has been detected in every major lake and river in the United States, and the EPA nor any other government agencies has taken any action toward this invisible killer. The American government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this harmful chemical due to its “importance to the economic health of this nation.” In fact, the navy and other military organizations are conducting experiments with DHMO, and designing multi-billion dollar devices to control and utilize it during warfare situations.

So, it comes down to one question- Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide or Not? Well, the cons certainly weigh out the pros and after hearing all those dangers and risks connected to DHMO, anybody in their right mind would want to ban it. But doesn’t Dihydrogen Monoxide remind you of another chemical compound, one that saves lives, is beneficial to the growth and health of many forms of life, makes up two-thirds of the earth’s surface and about 60% of the human body? Yes, water. In fact Dihydrogen Monoxide is good old water.

In spring of 1997, Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old 9th grader at Eagle Rock Junior High School in Idaho Falls, Idaho conducted a science fair project with the same premise. He distributed a tongue-and-cheek report to 50 of his classmates and posed the question to ban the dangerous chemical compound. In the end, 43 students (83%) students voted to ban DHMO, the rest voted not to, and only one student realized it was water.

I don’t know if the people of those sites that want to ban Dihydrogen Monoxide are actually serious, but just because something has many dangers and hazards associated with it, it can also be essential for life.