Misinformation about MMS abounds, some correct details

July 20, 2012

makes the false claim that MMS, chlorine dioxide, removes heavy metals from

people by oxidizing them.

Luckily ClO2 can't oxidize mercuric mercury, as mercury +3 is so oxidizing it

would immediately take an electron from any nearby moelcule, including a water

molecule, and start a radical chain reaction that might damage many thousands of

important proteins and lipids in your body.

Since the mercury +3 would be almost instantly converted back to mercuric

mercury, it's excretion would not be enhanced - it would not have time to get

excreted.

Arsenic is often consumed in the methylated form (from fish), which unlike the

methylmercury is fairly benign because it mostly is excreted before being

demethylated. This is a reduced form and ClO2 likely WOULD oxidize it and

render it more toxic. I don't know of any cases where this occurred, it is a

theoretical concern at present.

" Heavy Metals' covers half the periodic table or so. The heavy metals do not

all have the same descriptive chemistry. Most relevant ones would not be subject

to oxidation, some might be. Oxidation might make them more or less toxic. For

instance, arsenic and antimony +3 are less toxic than the +5 or more oxidized

valences.

I don't know why people go so out of control making things up to sell their

products - but it is certainly the way things like cars are sold. So it is left

to third parties to poke holes in the more ridiculous claims in hopes the MMS

proponents get embarrassed and check into things a bit instead of just making

them up.

Andy

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