There is a hazardous chemical compound that is found commonly in everyday life. It is known as Dihydrogen Monoxide. This chemical is not classified as toxic by the US Centers for Disease control, but it can be deadly. Inhaling Dihydrogen Monoxide can be fatal in even small doses. If it enters the bloodstream, it can result in the blood cells rupturing which if not treated properly can lead to death. It can be found in acid rain, pesticides, and is used by nuclear power plants as a coolant.

We should be concerned because we ingest it every day as it is commonly found in the foods we eat. It is sprayed on crops as a pesticide and is fed to livestock. This is a major health concern because if we we digest too much Dihydrogen Monoxide, it can result to hyperhydration, which is potentially fatal. Soil erosion can occur from large quantities of DHMO. It can break down electrical circuits, and, in a vapor form, it can lead to severe burns.

Though this chemical compound is very dangerous, it should not be banned. We are required to intake this chemical daily in order to stay alive. Almost every organism will die without daily intake of the substance. That is because Dihydrogen Monoxide is no ordinary compound. It is H2O; more commonly known as water.

The paragraphs above are meant to show how common substances, such as water, can be explained in very intimidating ways. In the show created by Penn and Teller entitled “BS,” they showed a skit in which they got signatures from people who thought it was a dangerous chemical. The earliest source of DHMO as a gag can be traced back to a 1983 April Fools Edition of Durand Express, in which there were reports of a fatal chemical compound found in the city of Michigan’s water pipes. The DHMO story was brought into popularity from a 14 year old student’s science fair project, titled “How Gullible Are We?”. He started a petition which he used as the basis of his project. There has been numerous other reports of articles detailing the dangers of Dihydrogen Monoxide. The case of DHMO can show that true facts, if worded in a certain manner, can lead to false conclusions.