Questions tagged [toxicity]
Questions on the harmful effects of various substances on the human body, or biological organisms in general.
145
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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 ...
1
vote
1answer
29 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?
1
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0answers
36 views
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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
53 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 ...
12
votes
3answers
3k 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
49 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
1k views
Does melting HDPE plastic produce toxic fumes? (melting, not burning)
● The question isn't about burning HDPE but melting it at the proper temperature. (At 120 to 180°C depending on it's density, it becomes gooey. According to the source below the "extrusion" ...
0
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0answers
31 views
Which is the more effective home insecticide? Boric acid or borax?
I recall my late father introducing me to one of either boric acid or borax... as a relatively low human toxicity very effective insecticide. The thing is, I cannot remember which chemical my father ...
7
votes
3answers
778 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 (...
0
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0answers
29 views
Metal colored flame and safety
For Chrismtas I was a given a wonderful gas lighter, that produced a pink flame by heating small metal pads (when the pads are cold, the flame is blue, once they are red hot, the flame is colored).
...
3
votes
1answer
334 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.
0
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1answer
89 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 $\pu{140 °C}$. Is it possible:
for some poisonous gas to be emitted? ($\ce{F2, HF}$ or other)
for ...
2
votes
0answers
213 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 ...
4
votes
1answer
634 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?
7
votes
2answers
133 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
247 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.
0
votes
1answer
64 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 ...
4
votes
0answers
51 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 ...
1
vote
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
votes
1answer
445 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
votes
0answers
182 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
votes
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 don’t ...
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0answers
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-...
34
votes
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 ...
4
votes
0answers
85 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
486 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
votes
1answer
400 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
votes
1answer
71 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 ...
7
votes
1answer
735 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
77 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
votes
1answer
67 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/...
4
votes
0answers
124 views
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
36 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.
6
votes
2answers
8k 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 ...
6
votes
1answer
288 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 ...
8
votes
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 ...
5
votes
0answers
109 views
Toxicity of vanadium in pottery
I mix and develop glaze recipes for midfire stoneware (fired to 1220°C). The colorants in pottery are mostly iron, copper, cobalt, tin, titanium, chrome, and a few other transition metals. Many of ...
-2
votes
1answer
64 views
What are the organisms that are used for toxicology studies in water? [closed]
I have heard that zebra fish is used for toxicology studies . Is there any other organism that is actively used for toxicological studies?https://www.google.co.in/search?q=zebrafish+toxicity+studies&...
1
vote
1answer
68 views
Are there any poisons with an activation threshold?
Are there any poisons that lay dormant unless a significant quantity of one has been added, i.e. poison X might as well be water in concentrations less than 5M, but at 6M, all of a sudden a threshold ...
3
votes
0answers
75 views
Is turpentine (as a solvent in plant-based paints) toxic after application? How long?
Turpentine is often used as a solvent in plant-based paints. It is believed that
turpentine is equally if not more toxic than white spirit (see Green Building Handbook. Volume 1 by Tom Woolley,Sam ...
1
vote
2answers
902 views
Can ethyl alcohol fumes be suppressed by a household air purifier/filter?
Can ethyl alcohol fumes be suppressed by a household air purifier/filter? In general, how are the fumes suppressed? How is it done?
Can somebody direct me to some information regarding this? I've ...
3
votes
1answer
63 views
Aluminium, heat and biological safety
I'm currently working on a really simple project, an ashtray that can stop cigarette combustion.
I planned to put an aluminium block into my ashtray, with some kind of curves or holes in it, in order ...
9
votes
1answer
473 views
Why does ethanol have a health rating of [2] in NFPA 704 whereas methanol, which is far more toxic, has a rating of only [1]?
Why Ethanol has the blue health hazard rating of 2 in NFPA 704 where as both Acetone and Methanol which are far more toxic than Ethanol have a rating of only 1? (Click on each link to see the NFPA ...
3
votes
1answer
92 views
What are the uses of ethyl phthalate
The last time I went to my junior college I remember seeing huge blue colored drums labeled ethyl phthalate. So just out of curiosity I decided to check upon this compound. Wikipedia entry containes ...
0
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1answer
228 views
Dangers of Colbalt Chloride Paper Burning
I am a science technician and foolishly decided to heat a small amount of cobalt chloride paper on a glass petri dish over a Bunsen. Unfortunately the petri dish broke and the paper hit the metal ...
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1answer
32 views
Is recycling introducing toxins into products that come in contact with food? [closed]
Paper products like napkins and paper plates made from recycled material might have unsafe levels of toxins if the original recycled materials contain toxic inks, etc. How big of a health concern is ...
3
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0answers
86 views
Colour change on exposure to singlet oxygen?
Is there a dye that is particularly well suited to radical colour change on interaction with singlet oxygen, preferably non-toxic?
Based on this answer: https://chemistry.stackexchange.com/a/27633/...
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4answers
1k views
Why n-Butanol is not used as a safer alternative to ethanol in the alcoholic beverages?
The $LD_{50}$ of n-Butanol adjusted for its intoxicating potency is about 1.5 times that of ethanol. This would mean to me that n-Butanol is therefore 50% safer than ethanol. Why is it not used to ...
13
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2answers
4k views
Can drinking a lot of water be fatal?
I vaguely recall having heard that drinking too much water can, over time, prove fatal to the human body.
Nothing special about the water; not distilled or de-ionized or anything … just plain ol' ...
0
votes
1answer
241 views
Bolt head corrosion in soup. Toxic? Zinc? Cadmium? [closed]
This may not be quite the right forum for this question, but please help me if you can.
I recently repaired the lid of my grandma's crockpot using a bolt I found in a miscellaneous fastener box in ...
