Re: [Phys-l] Isotope chemistry and physics

[ludwik kowalski <kowalskil@mail.montclair.edu>]

About a year ago I was using ~100% pure heavy water in an experiment.  
Curious about the taste, I put several drops of it into my mouth.  
Obviously, the D2O is not highly toxic. I had no reason to suspect  
that D2O might be toxic.

Ludwik

On Mar 16, 2009, at 1:34 PM, John SOHL wrote:

> In BC's original reply there was a link below the D2O statement (see  
> Bill's note below):
> http://www.isb.vt.edu/brarg/brasym96/kushner96.htm
>
> In that paper there is the statement:
> **
>
> Since this conference is largely concerned with the risks of  
> releasing different substances into the environment, it should be  
> stated at the beginning that D2O itself poses little such risk--so  
> long as it has not been used in nuclear reactors. As will be seen  
> below, D2O itself is not toxic to animals, except under exceptional  
> and very improbable circumstances.
> **
>
> This matches my understanding and I'm assuming Bill Nettles'  
> understanding. The paper does go on to note that in nuclear reactors  
> the D changes to T which is radioactive and is thus a clear risk.
>
> As far as I know, the biggest risk in drinking D2O is to your  
> pocketbook.

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Ludwik Kowalski, a retired physics teacher and an amateur journalist.  
Updated links  to publications and reviews are at:

http://csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/cf/   http://csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/my_opeds.html 
   http://csam.montclair.edu/~kowalski/revcom.html