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Dihydrogen Monoxide Hoax

Dihydrogen Monoxide Hoax

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Hydro en Hydrogen BAN ihydrogei onoxide


About

The dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) is an internet hoax that is designed to convince people that "dihydrogen monoxide," a scientific name for pure water, is an extremely dangerous chemical that is present in most consumer products. Its intent is to illustrate scientific illiteracy among the general public, as well as sensationalist media reports.[2][3]

Origin

The DHMO hoax was first distributed via leaflets in the early 1990s by students at University of California Santa Cruz. They chose to use the term "dihydrogen monoxide," the molecular structure of water containing two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom, because of the negative connotations of the term "monoxide," which is a common name for lethal carbon monoxide gas.[2] In 1994, one of the UC Santa Cruz students Craig Jackson launched a fictitious online organization known as Coalition to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide for dissemination in newsgroups.


CONTAMINATION WARNING! Recently, it has been discovered that our water system has been contaminated with a hazardous chemical. This chemical is colorless, odorless, tasteless and dissolves completely in water. No action has been taken regarding this dangerous contamination. The substance is dihydrogen monoxide, and has the following properties: . It is used as an industrial solvent and coolant, and is used in the production of styrofoamm. . It is used in many forms of animal research. . It is used in the distribution of pesticides. . It is an integral part of the operation of nuclear power plants. . It accelerates corrosion and rusting. It contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape Inhalation of this substance has been shown to cause death . In certain forms, this chemical can cause severe burns, cloud the atmosphere, and may contribute to the "greenhouse effect. It can also damage concrete and glass, as well as the surfaces of roadways. It may also be related to electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes It may have been a factor in the destruction of the Space Shuttle “Challenger." . It has been directly linked to thousands of deaths in third-world countries, especially those countries which do not have the resources to properly deal with the threat, or treat people who have come in contact with it. . Quantities of this substance have been found in our rivers, lakes, streams, oceans, reservoirs, and now our local water system. It has also permeated the No current form of water purification can completely eliminate the deadly Our government has spent millions of dollars to try to control and contain this Every day, hundreds of secret research facilities receive tons of it through a highly atmosphere, and has contaminated ground water substance. dangerous chemical. sophisticated underground distribution network. Many store large quantities for .Several government agencies are tracking the degree of contamination throughout This administration has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this ater use the world damaging chemical due to its "importance to the economic health of this nation. Act now to prevent further contamination. Find out more about chemical. What you don't know CAN hurt you and others throu dangerous ut the world. Coalition to Ban DHMO: http://BanDHMO.org Ban DHMO: Dihydrogen Monoxide he Invisible Killer Dihydrogen monoxide (DHMO) is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and sickens over 4 billion and kills over 2 million people every year (United Nations World Health Organization, 2008: www.WHO.Int). Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide do not end there. Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. For those who have become dependent, DHMO withdrawal means certain death. "Recreational DHMO illness can have a significant impact on public health not only because of the severity of the illness but also the number of people who die." Department of Health, State Of Washington (www2.DOH.WA.Gov). Fire Retardants No Mix, UL, Non-Toxic, Intumescent Fire Retardents. Sprays, More. Call www.lamestop.com

The mock organization produced the following informational blurb about the dangers of DHMO, all of which are true, but were commonly misinterpreted given the scientific opaqueness of the term "dihydrogen monoxide":


Dihydrogen monoxide:
  • is called "hydroxyl acid", the substance is the major component of acid rain.
  • contributes to the "greenhouse effect".
  • may cause severe burns.
  • is fatal if inhaled.
  • contributes to the erosion of our natural landscape.
  • accelerates corrosion and rusting of many metals.
  • may cause electrical failures and decreased effectiveness of automobile brakes.
  • has been found in excised tumors of terminal cancer patients.

Despite the danger, dihydrogen monoxide is often used:

  • as an industrial solvent and coolant.
  • in nuclear power plants.
  • in the production of Styrofoam.
  • as a fire retardant.
  • in many forms of cruel animal research.
  • in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
  • as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.


Spread

The Coalition to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide was reported as an internet prank for the first time in 1997 through an article titled "Internet-inspired prank lands 4 teens in hot water" published by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. That same year, 14-year-old Nathan Zohner from Idaho Falls, Idaho, conducted a science fair project in which he convinced the majority of his classmates to vote "yes" on a petition to ban DHMO at the school. The text of his petition was then spread around via email chain, and was reported about in the mainstream media.


A DANGER Dihydrogen monoxide is colorless and odorless. Accidental inhalation of DHMO may be fatal. 2 Prolonged exposure to its solid form causes severe tissue damage. Symptoms of DHMO ingestion can include excessive sweating and urination, and possibly a bloated feeling, nausea, vomiting and body electrolyte imbalance. Oxy

Throughout the late 1990s and ealry 2000s, numerous other fictitious organizations against the use of DHMO were created for similar purposes and it became a recurring topic on conspiracy theory discussion sites,[2] most notably The Friends of Hydrogen Hydroxide[1], a foil website created by Dan Curtis Johnson in 1997 to pose as the advocacy organization of the chemical, and DHMO.org, an information resource site created by Tom Way in 1998 which included links to governmental web pages of Environmental Protection Agency and National Institutes of Health.


D H Perhaps you've heard of it: a colorless, odorless liquid; a powerful coolant and solvent; an easily- synthesized compound which is used by industry, the military, commercial operations, and even private ndividuals Yes, we are talking about hydrogen hydroxide, also known as dihydrogen monoxide, and we are here to tell you that what you've heard about DHMO is probably not the whole truth. There are forces out there, such as the Coalition to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide, who would seek to legislate its use and availability, placing heavy limitations on it-- and eventually, eradicating it entirely In the interest of fairness, we invite you to see their argument, and then we urge you to return here, to learn the truth. Their subversive agenda must not be allowed to prevail Hydrogen hydroxide is beneficial! It has been shown that hydrogen hydroxide enhances the functionality, growth, and health of many forms of life-- including humans!-- and current research suggests that it has become an integral part of our planet's ecological balance | Hydrogen hydroxide is environmentally safe! Opponents of dihydrogen monoxide would have you believe that it is some kind of uber-toxin, that it wreaks caustic terror on anything it touches. This couldn't be farther from the truth; when handled properly, it enhances nature rather than destroys it, and even a worst-case scenario DHMO accident would be a trifle for the natural cycles of our world to handle Hydrogen hydroxide is benign! The Coalition and others have popularized the label "dihydrogen monoxide" over the more chemically-accurate "hydrogen hydroxide" because they know how loaded the former name is. "Monoxide" has become synonymous with pollution, toxic gases, industrial waste- and while hydrogen hydroxide is sometimes a factor in these problems facing our world today, it is rarely the dangerous element. Hydrogen hydroxide occurs in nature! To hear its naysayers' descriptions, one would think hydrogen hydroxide was solely the product of industrial technology: that it came from years of research in clandestine labs. This is not the case! Hydrogen hydroxide has been a part of nature longer than we have; what gives us the right to eliminate it? eed hydrogen hydroxide! Don't let an uneducated and terror-stricken mob of fanatics railroad you into giving up your right to choose! Support the use and distribution of hydrogen hydroxide in your neighborhood, city, state, and country! Dangers: Uses Places: Animal research Abortion clinics Nuclear plants Death by inhalation Corrodes metals Bloating & nausea Electrical short-circuit . Chemical warfare Tissue damage & burns . Performance enhancers Soil erosion Brake failure Disaster& destruction Fire suppression Cancerous tumors Cleaning solvents Prisons & hospitals Acid rain Pharmaceuticals Lakes&streams Industrial waste Baby food & beer Torture Cult rituals Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide DHMO.org

Since the site went live, several online petitions to ban DHMO have been submitted to governments in the English-speaking world by falsely alarmed citizens as well as by internet pranksters on April Fool's Day[2][3], including the Dutch fitness webzine Triathlonweb.nl and Canadian Member of Parliament Andrew Scheer's website on April 1st, 2010.

Search Interest

External References

[1] DHMO Homepage

[2] Wikipedia – Dihydrogen monoxide hoax

[3] Snopes – Dihydrogen monoxide

[4] Urban Dictionary – dihydrogen monoxide

[5] Netreach (via Wayback Machine) – Coalition to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide

[6] Armory – The Friends of Hydrogen Hydroxide

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