Questions tagged [toxicity]
Questions on the harmful effects of various substances on the human body, or biological organisms in general.
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BPA rate of leaching from juicer [closed]
I have searched high and low for an answer to this.
Given a cheap Citrus Juicer like this, which carries a prop 65 warning specifically about exposure to Styrene and BPA:
How much, if any, BPA, ...
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1answer
75 views
Why is methyl parathion less toxic than ethyl parathion?
According to the PubChem pages on ethyl parathion and methyl parathion (pages 11 and 12 of the toxicity section, respectively), methyl parathion is significantly less toxic than ethyl parathion. The ...
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25 views
Will a dangerous amount of lead leach into soil from a galvanised corrugated steel raised bed? [closed]
I have searched, found similar questions but none answer my specific need.
I have built a raised garden bed to grow vegetables (ironically due to a high lead content in our garden soil - planning to ...
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0answers
28 views
Why are carbamates capable of inhibiting acetylcholinesterase?
Certain carbamate compounds, such as the insecticide carbaryl or the Edgewood carbamates such as EA-3990, can inhibit the enzyme acetylcholinesterase. Unlike organophosphorus compounds, however, they ...
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2answers
78 views
Fumes by Melting Aluminium Soda Cans [closed]
I am planning to melt and cast aluminium from soda cans. I went to quora page that deals with "burning" aluminium can, which can release toxic gases as the cans are coated with plastic inner lining. ...
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1answer
49 views
Treating styrene in the atmosphere
I was actually inspired to ask this question in certain circumstances. In the outskirts of my city, there happened to be a styrene gas leak early morning today which killed thirteen and hospitalized ...
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1answer
42 views
Non-toxic organic bases? [closed]
I am trying to find out if there are any non-toxic organic bases that could be given orally on a non-empty stomach to treat acidosis. From my research, histidine and diluted choline hydroxide were the ...
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2answers
47 views
How can I remove the bitartrate anion from an organic bitartrate salt?
I have a compound, dimethylaminoethanol (DMAE) bitartrate, which I originally purchased as a supplement and possible smart drug. I bought an absurd amount of it. It didnāt do anything for me as a ...
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1answer
40 views
Cadmium Selenide, Cadmium Sulfide, Cinnabar and Lead Oxide toxicity
I have a question about the toxicity of the pigments Cadmium Selenide (Cadmium Red), Cadmium Sulfide (Cadmium Yellow), Mercury Sulfide (Cinnabar or Vermillion) and Lead Oxide (Lead White).
Not long ...
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39 views
Do any pharmaceuticals increase in potency or toxicity over time?
Pursuing a question raised in these comments:
Are there any known pharmaceuticals that increase in potency or toxicity during storage, or over periods of months to years?
If not, what if we broaden ...
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1answer
26 views
Does toxicity depend on state of matter? [closed]
Does the toxicity of an element depend on the state of matter (liquid, solid, gas)?
Could there be an element, which is totally non-toxic when it is solid, but toxic when it is liquid. Which elements ...
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39 views
How is mercury in drinking water detected? [closed]
A document I've been reading states that:
Both the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal and the Maximum Contaminant Level were set at 2 parts per billion because current technology allows public water ...
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0answers
30 views
Risks of using organic mercury compounds in analytical chemistry
I'm interested in speciation analysis. Hearing of fatal accidents with organic mercury compounds made me wonder about the risks for the analytical chemist trying to determine Hg species in foodstuff. ...
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2answers
82 views
Does water in big cities get heated (boiled) for treatment?
I live in Bangkok and read how water comes to customers here:
I understand from the chart that water go through Thon Buri treatment plant (west Bangkok) and Mahasawat treatment plant (east Bangkok) ...
4
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1answer
98 views
Indigo and the Environment: is it that bad?
TL;DR: In what aspects are the products of the indigo vat dyeing process (sodium sulphate, sulphite and thiosulphate ions) harmful to the environment or to living beings?
I was recently looking into ...
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2answers
389 views
How does one tell (or conclude) if a substance is carcinogenic?
It's common to read statements like:
Tetrachloroethene ($\ce{CCl2=CCl2}$) was earlier used as a solvent for dry cleaning, but since it contaminated ground water and is a suspected carcinogen, ...
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2answers
5k views
Why is potassium ferrocyanide considered safe for consumption, when it is just one reaction away from the highly toxic potassium cyanide?
According to this answer, heating potassium ferrocyanide will decompose it into potassium cyanide.
Now, potassium ferrocyanide is an approved anti-caking agent, and hence used in table salt, for ...
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1answer
35 views
If heavy metals bind to sulfur why isn't sulfur used as a safer way to chelate them? [closed]
I was wondering about sulfur as an alternative life-threatening chelators. Why isn't sulfur used as a chelator if heavy metals have an affinity for it?
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Water replacement for pressure-testing [closed]
Due to circumstance, our Data Centre build has some delays and it currently looks like we're going to have to perform a hydrostatic test of our sprinkler system with live computers in it.
As I have ...
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1answer
67 views
Cup with vinegar/salt/copper solution previously in it ran through dishwasher
Someone enjoys making jewelry, and saw an online tutorial saying that you can mix equal parts of vinegar and salt, and leave copper in it for a while to oxidize it, and turn it green.
After doing ...
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3answers
4k views
Chilling water in copper vessel
Does chilling drinking water in copper bottle result in any chemical reaction that turns it dangerous for consumption in any way?
Few days back, in summer, I carried kokum juice in copper bottle. I ...
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1answer
58 views
How to determine toxicity of a substance? [closed]
I often read description of various compounds or elements as being poisonous. Now I know that through experience we have discovered the toxicity of various substances like lead, chlorine or phosgene ...
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1answer
5k views
Does melting HDPE plastic produce toxic fumes? (melting, not burning)
ā The question isn't about burning HDPE but melting it at the proper temperature. (At 120 to 180Ā°C depending on it's density, it becomes gooey. According to the source below the "extrusion" ...
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3answers
880 views
Are risks (hexavalent chromium) during Chrome plating temporary, or remain with the product?
Since some chrome plating production processes generate hexavalent_chromium compounds, which are reportedly highly toxic/carcinogenic, I wonder:
Do the hexavalent chromium substances only occur (...
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1answer
903 views
Is the flint used in disposable lighters toxic?
Especially the sparks that result when using them. I heard this from a friend and can't seem to find an answer on Google.
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1answer
109 views
Is it safe to heat fluorite (CaF2) to 140 °C?
For the manufacture of the optical system, we need to heat the fluorite ($\ce{CaF2}$) lenses to $\pu{140 Ā°C}$. Is it possible:
for some poisonous gas to be emitted? ($\ce{F2, HF}$ or other)
for ...
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0answers
275 views
What makes dimethylmercury ((CH3)2Hg) so penetrative through latex and human skin?
I've read the story of Karen Wetterhahn and how she was poisoned and died from two drops of dimethylmercury that accidentally fell on her latex glove, and I was wondering what is the chemical ...
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1answer
1k views
Why is carbon monoxide not a greenhouse gas?
Carbon monoxide is considered to be a toxic gas and, given that it is usually found along with $\ce{CO2}$, why it is not considered a greenhouse gas?
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2answers
146 views
Would standing next to a pool of mercury do you any harm?
I was watching this clip from the 2017 film The Mummy in which the characters stand next to a pool of mercury which was being used as part of an elaborate prison.
Several comments under this video ...
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1answer
336 views
What is the composition of camel urine. Does it contain any particularly toxic substance? [closed]
I'd like to know the composition of camel urine. Furthermore, I'd like to know if it contains any known toxins.
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1answer
70 views
is dental acrylic dangerous when heated?
I work in a research lab where we use small screws to attach onto hard objects and secure it with dental acrylic, to maintain durability. The screws are expensive, so when we are done with the ...
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0answers
52 views
Choosing electrodes for corrosive environments
Background
I'm building a watering robot for my household plants. For the purpose of measuring the moisture content of the plant I intend to use a resisitive approach where I pass an electric current ...
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1answer
40 views
Polluting agents generated by road traffic in a city [closed]
I want to measure the air quality according to road traffic in a city.
What are the polluting agents (generated by fuel combustion) strictly related and generated by road vehicles that is worth ...
4
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1answer
447 views
Osmium tetroxide production [closed]
I know osmium powder will produce osmium tetroxide when exposed to air,but what about solid piece of osmium,such as pellet or ring,finely polished to minimize surface area,will this produce ...
3
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0answers
229 views
Cubic zirconia additives and toxicity
What are cubic zirconia (CZ) gemstones usually colored with?
According to wikipedia the following dopants are being used:
Cerium
Chromium
Neodymium
Erbium
Titanium.
Chromium is quite colorful ...
13
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2answers
3k views
Any substance too poisonous to measure an LD50?
A recent question on poisons was answered in part by bringing up the concept of $\pu{LD_{50}}$ and animal testing and so on; none of that was new to me, but it did bring to mind a question I donāt ...
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33 views
Hexanoic acid and copper/brass - toxicity?
We have a sensor made of brass through which we are flowing organic solvent vapours mixed with air, typically hexane and various alcohols. After a year or so the interior is covered in a greenish-...
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4answers
8k views
How are poisons discovered? Does someone have to die/be poisoned from it first?
How are poisons discovered? Does someone have to die/be poisoned from it first?
Or are there other ways of discovering the harmfulness of a substance? Perhaps everything is tested on other animals ...
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0answers
97 views
Could the inks used in Wonder Bread container have caused lead poisoning?
Decades ago I recall reading that the colorful wrapper of Wonder Bread was misprinted inside out and therefore the printed logo rubbed off on the bread itself, bread was used and kids ended up with ...
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1answer
602 views
Will squeezing lemon juice on top of foods with ferrocyanide additive release hydrogen cyanide gas?
For example, will squeezing lemon juice on top of table salt with sodium ferrocyanide ($\ce{Na4[Fe(CN)6]}$) additive (E 535) release hydrogen cyanide gas?
Examples of ferrocyanide additives:
sodium ...
3
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1answer
456 views
What is the Chemical Compound that has a NFPA 704 (Fire Diamond) of 2-2-1-ox?
I recently saw this fire diamond configuration of:
2 - Flammability;
2 - Health;
1 - Reactivity;
OX - Extra Information
I have been attempting to find a database of terms, but after turning up with ...
4
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1answer
79 views
How do the toxicities of arsenate and arsenite compare?
So I was browsing the detoxification metabolistic mechanisms for E. coli, and came across an arsenic detoxification mechanism that converted arsenate to arsenite using a glutaredoxin. So my question ...
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1answer
888 views
Dangers of corroded mercury battery
Disclaimer: Sorry if this is not a pure chemistry question. If it's better suited to another SE, I'm happy to have it migrated there.
I'm in the process of cleaning my father's workshop, and recently ...
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1answer
81 views
Can I get ride of dichlorobenzene in honey?
I have some honey that was stored near dichlorobenzene crystals & has taken on the smell. I'm wondering if I turn it into mead if it would remove the chemical?
The procedure would be to add 5-10 ...
2
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1answer
70 views
Do chemical garden coral formations leach toxins?
Short version, I want to make a coral garden with sodium silicate and salts, and I would like to put that in my fish tank, but I'm concerned about the fish getting poisoned.
https://en.wikipedia.org/...
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Why is dimethylmercury more toxic (to animal life) than methylmercury or ethylmercury?
It's obviously a two step process to reduce dimethylmercury to the less harmful inorganic form.
Is neuronal uptake also enhanced due to lipophilicity? Is there some other mechanism of toxicity I'm ...
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1answer
37 views
How can we get the toxicity level of a plant without using animals? [closed]
We need to know the answer for our research paper. We will appreciate it so much if you will answer our question.
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2answers
9k views
Is bamboo based plastic less likely to leak chemicals?
Some plastics have been known to leak plasticizers (bisphenol and phthalates) into the food they contain, especially when heated.
Because such compounds are suspected of being endocrine disruptors it ...
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1answer
299 views
I (might) have accidentally combined these mold-killers at home: Any adverse reactions?
A trailer is a small enclosed space. About 2 months ago we had some mold and I applied some mold killer to a few spots that I could not remediate. Below I've listed 2 products I used. (I definitely ...
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1answer
1k views
Taste same but why not LiCl a substitute for NaCl (common salt)?
A clinical paper from 1949 [1] observes the toxicity of LiCl, at very low concentrations. That just went over my head... Is toxicity the only reason to avoid LiCl as a substitute for NaCl (specially ...
