Page 1 of 1

Death by balloon

PostPosted: Mon Nov 22, 2010 3:07 pm
by machineman9
It's incredibly rare for me to post something news related, but I couldn't pass this one up.

Child dies from breathing in helium

So they want to ban helium, a fairly safe gas, because someone had 'too much of a good thing' and they call it the inert gas of death.

We may as well ban our own air - That is full of nitrogen and argon. We may as well ban plastic bags and anything which prevents oxygen from reaching our lungs.

So yeah, I can only presume they were not boffins at biology. I think it's fairly obvious to most people that filling your lungs with one gas (which your cells aren't designed to live from) and refusing space within your system for gasses which do matter (OXYGEN!) is a pretty bad idea.


So yeah, a death, but wow... What a crazy story to come up with. It's not news that asphyxiation kills.

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 2:51 am
by expat
In actual fact, helium should be banned, but not for this reason. Helium is a very, very rare gas and we only have a limited supply of it, although next to hydrogen, it is the second most abundant element in the universe just not on planet earth. Using it for party balloons etc is rather wasteful, but man is not known for his ability to be frugal when a pile of

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 6:44 am
by machineman9
Perhaps another reason to invest in nuclear, more helium  ;D

It does seem incredibly odd that they would have a sell-by date on a gas. I mean, what's it going to do if they don't sell it? Sell it for scrap?

But yeah, the moral is... Don't try to live off the wrong gases, and don't use up our precious helium!

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 7:31 am
by Meck
How 'bout banning DHMO then?

Di-Hydrogen-Monoxid kills thousends of humans every year...  :P

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 10:14 am
by Groundbound1
[quote]How 'bout banning DHMO then?

Di-Hydrogen-Monoxid kills thousends of humans every year...

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:16 pm
by 1olehippy
Maybe if they just banned stupidity  ;)  ::)

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 12:26 pm
by ozzy72
I'm with 1olehippy on this one, frankly anyone this dim deserves their Darwin Award ::)

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Tue Nov 23, 2010 11:44 pm
by B-Valvs
[quote]Maybe if they just banned stupidity

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:45 am
by Meck
[quote][quote]How 'bout banning DHMO then?

Di-Hydrogen-Monoxid kills thousends of humans every year...

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 9:06 am
by B-Valvs
Is that real? Are they insane? From their FAQ:

What is Dihydrogen Monoxide?

Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO) is a colorless and odorless chemical compound, also referred to by some as Dihydrogen Oxide, Hydrogen Hydroxide, Hydronium Hydroxide, or simply Hydric acid. Its basis is the highly reactive hydroxyl radical, a species shown to mutate DNA, denature proteins, disrupt cell membranes, and chemically alter critical neurotransmitters. The atomic components of DHMO are found in a number of caustic, explosive and poisonous compounds such as Sulfuric Acid, Nitroglycerine and Ethyl Alcohol.


Shows how much they know. H-OH is made of an acid, H+, and a base, OH-, but when brought together, they are 100% neutral.

Should I be concerned about Dihydrogen Monoxide?

Yes, you should be concerned about DHMO! Although the U.S. Government and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) do not classify Dihydrogen Monoxide as a toxic or carcinogenic substance (as it does with better known chemicals such as hydrochloric acid and benzene), DHMO is a constituent of many known toxic substances, diseases and disease-causing agents, environmental hazards and can even be lethal to humans in quantities as small as a thimbleful.   

  Research conducted by award-winning U.S. scientist Nathan Zohner concluded that roughly 86 percent of the population supports a ban on dihydrogen monoxide. Although his results are preliminary, Zohner believes people need to pay closer attention to the information presented to them regarding Dihydrogen Monoxide. He adds that if more people knew the truth about DHMO then studies like the one he conducted would not be necessary. 


A similar study conducted by U.S. researchers Patrick K. McCluskey and Matthew Kulick also found that nearly 90 percent of the citizens participating in their study were willing to sign a petition to support an outright ban on the use of Dihydrogen Monoxide in the United States.


People are really that stupid? I see my prediction in the above post is correct.  ;)

What are some of the dangers associated with DHMO?

Death due to accidental inhalation of DHMO, even in small quantities.
Prolonged exposure to solid DHMO causes severe tissue damage.
Excessive ingestion produces a number of unpleasant though not typically life-threatening side-effects.
DHMO is a major component of acid rain.
Gaseous DHMO can cause severe burns.
Contributes to soil erosion.
Leads to corrosion and oxidation of many metals.
Contamination of electrical systems often causes short-circuits.
Exposure decreases effectiveness of automobile brakes.
Found in biopsies of pre-cancerous tumors and lesions.
Given to vicious dogs involved in recent deadly attacks.
Often associated with killer cyclones in the U.S. Midwest and elsewhere, and in hurricanes including deadly storms in Florida, New Orleans and other areas of the southeastern U.S.
Thermal variations in DHMO are a suspected contributor to the El Nino weather effect.


It makes me so angry to read about such ignorance.  ;D ;D

8-)

Re: Death by balloon

PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2010 9:55 am
by Meck
[quote]

...

It makes me so angry to read about such ignorance.