Thread: World's greatest hoaxes - 1

The following example explains how lack of (scientific) knowldge, paronia, rumour mongering and "intelligent" use of words can bring a lot of grief.

In 1997-8, a mass e-mail chain used to circulate as follows:

BAN DHMO!

DHMO is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and kills uncounted thousands of people every year. Most of these deaths are caused by accidental inhalation of DHMO, but the dangers of DHMO 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.

DHMO:

· is also known as hydroxyl acid, and is the major component of acid rain.
· contributes to the "greenhouse effect."
· may cause severe burns.
· 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.

Contamination is reaching epidemic proportions!

Quantities of DHMO have been found in almost every stream, lake, and reservoir in the world today. The pollution is global, and the contaminant has even been found in Antarctic ice. DHMO has caused millions of dollars of property damage in the midwest, and recently California.

Despite the danger, DHMO 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.
· as an additive in certain "junk-foods" and other food products.

Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.

Companies dump waste DHMO into rivers and the ocean, and nothing can be done to stop them because this practice is still legal. The impact on wildlife is extreme, and we cannot afford to ignore it any longer!

The American government has refused to ban the production, distribution, or use of this damaging 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. Hundreds of military research facilities receive tons of it through a highly sophisticated underground distribution network. Many store large quantities for later use.

The mail/news cause such a panic that one California town banned the production of styrofoam in its neighbourhood facility.

The mayor face was worth seeing for every penny in the bank when it was revealed that:

"DHMO" means Di-hydrogen Monoxide which is a cleverly worded representaion of Hydrogen Oxide (H2O) or water!!!!

Great find dude.............

Good find just4kix!

But i don't know Chemistry

hehehe this is the kind of humour i had been searching for years..

Thanks j4k you are able to make a moment of my time..

Good one ..........

Nice one. Although I do believe I saw this recently, I never bothered to read it then.

Originally Posted by imrock

Good find just4kix!

But i don't know Chemistry

Same here man,Chemistry ..........