Re: Is oxygen poisonous under certain unusual conditions? WAS: dish soap eaten in NZ?and no napkins

I, too, was introduced to this discussion by the previous three messages.
It seems to be recording a singularly useless argument.

Have none of the participants heard the following phrase (almost a mantra in
Toxicology and Industrial Hygiene)?

     "The DOSE makes the POISON."

In sufficient quantity, anything is poisonous (toxic).

-- 
Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

"Walter Driedger" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> My introduction to this thread consisted of the last three posts.  It
really
> seems to be the stupidest discussion I have read in a long time.
>
> We all know what a poison is.  We also know that there is nothing good in
> this earth that cannot cause harm when applied in excess.  That does not
> make water, oxygen, salt, and Girl Guide cookies poisonous.  It simply
means
> that with a little imagination they can be used to cause harm.
>
> Promoter of the "oxygen is a poison" argument --  name one thing in this
> world that is NOT poisonous by your definition.  Just one thing that
cannot
> cause harm when used in "exotic" circumstances or extreme amounts.
>
> Conclusion -- EVERYTHING IS POISONOUS.  End of stupid discussion.
>
> Walter.
>
> PS  In medicine they say, "It's the dose that makes the poison."
>
> "tonyr" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 11:01:02 GMT, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > (Kerry) wrote:
> >
> > >On Tue, 25 Nov 2003 20:56:43 +1300, Keith <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > >wrote:
> > >
> > >>> But the issue isn't whether oxygen has a toxic effect, the issue
> > >>> is whether oxygen is a poison.  I said it wasn't and since then,
> > >>> people have been trying to prove me wrong with dismal results.
> > >
> > >Oxygen is toxic, it would kill you to be in 100% oxygen for very long.
> > >It is toxic to premature infants as well
> > >
> > >
> > Oxygen is Oxygen it is defined by its position in the table of
> > elements and by its physical structure.
> >
> > Oxygen can be harmful to humans in large doses but so can just about
> > anything including water.
> >
> > I would suggest that to be a poison one would have to qualify under
> > the historical significance of the Poissons.
> > In the Templar tradition.
> > Clearly the word has French connections.
> >
> > And these people wre well known for thier skill in mixing toxic
> > potions in generally small untracable amounts (in thier day) in direct
> > pupose to kill others. (read: ASSASINATION)
> >
> > In other quatities these same elements etc could be therapuetic or
> > nuetral.
> >
> > The historical context defines poiison
> >
> > \Scott Watson info homepage..
> > http://trudyandtom.tripod.com/homepage.htm
> >
> > \Police malicious prosecutions.. ???
> > http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/nzpolice/framed.html
> >
> > There's so much good among the worst of us
> > And bad among the best of us
> > That it ill becomes any one of us to talk about the rest of us
> > And when we're laid beneath the sod with a hundred years to back it
> > There's none will know which were the bones which wore the ragged jacket
>
>