Is H2O really toxic in very large doses?

[TheNextTherory]

Or is it the chemicals that are in it?

So is pure H2O toxic? Is it the chemicals in bottled and tap water?

[Phi for All]

If it gets in the lungs, it can be fatal.

[CharonY]

Or if you ingest enough to upset your electrolyte balance. Typically that will only happen if you drink lots of pure water together with losing electrolytes (e.g. heavy sweating).

[Greg H.]

See also: Water Intoxication

[Fuzzwood]

Even oxygen is toxic. You cannot survive in a 100% oxygen atmosphere because it damages your lungs severely over time.

[John Cuthber]

Or if you ingest enough to upset your electrolyte balance. Typically that will only happen if you drink lots of pure water together with losing electrolytes (e.g. heavy sweating).

if you drink a lot of water you will lose a lot of electrolytes in urine.

The kidneys are good at retaining the salts etc that the body needs, but they er not perfect.

[J.C.MacSwell]

See also: Water Intoxication

Read over the notable cases. Less water than you would expect causing fatalities in some cases.

[CharonY]

if you drink a lot of water you will lose a lot of electrolytes in urine.

The kidneys are good at retaining the salts etc that the body needs, but they er not perfect.

 

That's true. Though often additional circumstances are present in fatal cases. This may include not replenishing electrolytes by other means (e.g. fasting) or if the loss of electrolytes is accelerated by sweating. Some of the most documented cases (to my knowledge) are exercise-associated hyponatremia.

[J.C.MacSwell]

Or if you ingest enough to upset your electrolyte balance. Typically that will only happen if you drink lots of pure water together with losing electrolytes (e.g. heavy sweating).

Regular tap water can kill you if you ingest too much. Sweating or not. Under normal circumstances it is uncomfortable to do this but not particularly painful (ignorance and contests/competitiveness can be a problem)

 

Pure water is actually a fairly aggressive chemical. Tank liners designed to contain medium strength acids at temperatures of 99 C/ 210 F can fail over time with pure water at 60 C/ 140F.

[Dodecyl Sulfobetaine]

wow ,so nice to see your answers.All your answers let me know one thing-there is no absolutely right thing.

[John Cuthber]

.All your answers let me know one thing-there is no absolutely right thing.

Are you sure?

[TheNextTherory]

Well this is some replies going.

[Phi for All]

Well this is some replies going.

 

Yes, discussion.

[CharonY]

Regular tap water can kill you if you ingest too much. Sweating or not. Under normal circumstances it is uncomfortable to do this but not particularly painful (ignorance and contests/competitiveness can be a problem)

 

Pure water is actually a fairly aggressive chemical. Tank liners designed to contain medium strength acids at temperatures of 99 C/ 210 F can fail over time with pure water at 60 C/ 140F.

 

Well that has little impact on toxicity in organisms, as the water gets buffered rather quickly. The primary means of toxicity is electrolyte imbalance. Looking over cases the most common forms include:

-exercise-associated hyponatremia (i.e. drinking too much while exercising, especially when the liquid is low on salts)

-drinking faster than you can pee out (usually litres at once, expulsion rate is about 0.5-0.7 liter/h), this is often linked to compulsive behaviour.

 

Normally it is not the absolute loss that is relevant, unless you have no means to replenish sodium, which is rather rare. Typical serum sodium concentrations are in the 132-144 mmol/L range. Rapid ingestion of water, especially accompanied by water intake. Around 120-110 mmol/L symptoms appear, which can be similar to heat stroke.

Further dilution can starting to become fatal. Especially rapid change in osmolarity can accelerate harmful effects.

 

But as pretty much everyone is saying, everything is toxic in too high concentrations.

[Henry McLeod]

Anything is bad if you have too much of it...

[GM11]

Hmm had a lecturer once upon a very long time ago, who said "Moderation in all things, except the quest for knowledge". shame he died from alcohol poisoning