heavy water

[augusta at rockvax.rockefeller.edu]

Trumborm at dc37a.nci.nih.gov (Mark W. Trumbore) wrote:
>
> In article <Pine.A32.3.91.950412215501.32024A-100000 at umabnet.ab.umd.edu>,
> Leslie Gartner <lgartner at umabnet.ab.umd.edu> wrote:
> 
> > On 10 Apr 1995, wendy wolk wrote:
> > 
> > > Can anyone tell me the chemical formula for heavy water and in what dosage
> > > is it harmful. Also what are the symptoms of someone who has ingested too
> > > much.
> >  Wendy,
> > 
> D2O does behave differently than water in many systems.  These effects are
> the result of the difference in mass between hydrogen and deuterium. 
> Heavy water is more dense and has different hydrogen bond strengths. 
> While these differences are subtle they can and do effect cellular
> processes.  It is possible to "perdeuterate" a rabbit for instance by
> feeding it D2O as its water source.  It takes a long time and the rabbit
> is rather sick.  Even with this the absolute amount of deuterium
> incorporated is only between 50 and 75%.  Any more than this and the
> rabbit dies.  
> Mark Trumbore
> 
> -- 
> Mark W. Trumbore
> National Institutes of Health
> National Cancer Institute
> Building 37, Room B109
> Bethesda, MD 20892
> Phone: (301)496-6682
> Fax:   (301)402-0213
> Email: Trumborm at dc37a.nci.nih.gov

	But isnt D2O rather expensive to be used as a murder weapon
in this case.  Just a thought