Anne

Today we’re taking a look at POTASSIUM HYDROXIDE, commonly known as LYE.  You would not believe where you can find this…household products, skin care products, pet products, and even some food sources.  My eyes crossed trying to read all the contraindications of being anywhere near this chemical.

Let me quote from HSDB (Hazardous Substances Data Base):

Human Toxicity Excerpts:
ACUTE POISONING: … INGESTION OF ALKALI IS FOLLOWED BY SEVERE PAIN, VOMITING, DIARRHEA, & COLLAPSE. THE VOMITUS CONTAINS BLOOD AND DESQUAMATED MUCOSAL LINING. IF DEATH DOES NOT OCCUR IN THE FIRST 24 HOURS, THE PATIENT MAY IMPROVE FOR 2-4 DAYS AND THEN HAVE A SUDDEN ONSET OF SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN, BOARDLIKE ABDOMINAL RIGIDITY, AND RAPID FALL OF BLOOD PRESSURE INDICATING DELAYED GASTRIC OR ESOPHAGEAL PERFORATION. … ESOPHAGEAL STRICTURE CAN OCCUR WEEKS, MONTHS, OR EVEN YEARS LATER TO MAKE SWALLOWING DIFFICULT. CARCINOMA IS A RISK IN LATER LIFE. /ALKALIES/
[Dreisbach, R.H. Handbook of Poisoning. 12th ed. Norwalk, CT: Appleton and Lange, 1987., p. 211] **PEER REVIEWED**

There are more reviewed studies at that site.  Scary.

So to sum up the possible consequences:

• Harmful if swallowed or inhaled
• Can cause severe eye and skin burns
• Can cause severe respiratory $ digestive burns
• Repeated skin contact may cause dermatitis (Eczema)

Now, do you think if you’re using a hair spray with this chemical in it that it’s possible to get it in your eyes?  If you put it on your dishes, do you think it might be possible to ingest it?  If you spray your fruits and veggies with it, do you think you might possibly ingest it?  Let’s look at where you might commonly find this one!

• Cascade Liquid Dishwasher
• Olay Hydrating Skin Care
• Pantene Hair Spray and Hair Care
• Murphy’s Oil Soap
• Nitrile Latex Free Gloves
• Lysol Spray Cleaner
• Virboc Pet Shampoo
• Fit Fruit & Veggie Rinse

It’s a well-known fact that the dishwasher doesn’t totally remove all the residue from the dishes.  I have a great testimonial from a person who had severe eczema;  the only thing he did different was change his dishwasher powder to a phosphate free powder, eczema disappeared.

Particularly alarming is that products that spray a mist would have this chemical when it would be very easy to get a droplet in your eye.  Equally so to be spraying it on your veggies, putting it on your skin, and having it anywhere near your pets, particularly their water source.

Another alarming source is in duracell batteries (assorted sizes) and especially the little small round ones that could be easily swallowed by a young child.  These are things sometimes we don’t think about!

To learn more about this chemical and to check the products you may be using right now, go to the watch dog site .  Of the four I’ve done so far, I find this one the scariest by far, and the most alarming.  We don’t HAVE to use products that contain Potassium Hydroxide (aka/lye, Potassium hydrate, caustic potash,   Potassium hydroxide (K(OH)).

Good Health! ~ Anne