-- Bill Truesdell <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
It is all in the context.

>>>yes, it is all in the context.  given that this is marketing material for the product in question (one that is supposed to kill things), one must assume that it's toxicity is being cited as a selling point by the seller.

>>>although water can be toxic in large quantities, you would have to work pretty hard to drink enough of it to cause harm, even if it were distilled and 100% pure.  drowning or being whacked/stabbed by an icicle would hardly qualify as "toxicity".

>>>i'm sure in high enough doses, honey would be toxic as well (it certainly was for eric dolphy...but of course he was diabetic)...but i somehow doubt that the toxicity of honey has anything to do with it's formic acid content.  i would expect it's hygroscopic properties to be of more concern than it's formic acid content.

>>>the contents of the product in question is 65% formic acid.  you can make all the claims you want about everything being toxic in the right context...but here is the data from the msds sheet.  this is not water, and it is not accurate to even imply a correlation between the toxcisity of formic acid and water (or honey).

deknow (excerpt from msds below)

Section 8: Health Hazard Information
Primary Routes of Exposure: Inhalation, skin and eye contact, ingestion

Inhalation:
Inhalation of vapors can cause severe irritation of nose, throat, and upper respiratory tract. Inhalation of higher concentration may cause central nervous system effects and lung damage.

Ingestion:
Causes serious burns and corrosion of mouth, throat and esophagus, with immediate pain and difficulty swallowing. Other symptoms of abdominal pain nausea, diarrhea and vomiting can occur, leading to shortness of breath and death. Severe poisoning may cause shock, kidney damage.

Skin contact:
Corrosive, symptoms of redness, pain and severe burn can occur.

Eye Contact:
Corrosive! Vapors are irritating and may cause damage to eyes. Contact may cause severe burns and permanent eye damage.

Chronic Exposure:
Prolonged or repeated exposure to low concentrations may cause skin irritation and burn. Prolonged or repeated exposure may cause liver and kidney damage.
- 3

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* General Information About BEE-L is available at: *
* http://www.honeybeeworld.com/bee-l/default.htm   *
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