MK5 Golf GTI
General => Random Chat => Topic started by: Teutonic_Tamer on February 01, 2012, 07:03:29 pm
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A pondering question or two on ethylene glycol . . . and its variants . . .
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My friend is a Dr of Chemistry and all things boffing, she is right brain box. Seeing her friday night, what question is to be asked?
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I work with 3 chemists and can ask tomorrow for you :happy2:
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Welcome back Sean, what do you want to know?
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What is the difference between 'mono-ethylene glycol' (MEG) and 'poly-ethylene glycol' (PEG)? Specifically, why can one kill you, and not the other - when they seem to be very similar compounds?
Thanks in advance. :drinking:
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Mono ethylene glycol breaks down with the acid in the body to produce a toxic acid called oxalic acid which affects the Heart and kidneys. Poly ethylene glycol is as it says - a polymer and doesn't react in the same way and so doesn't produce the oxalic acid. Instead it actually helps remove certain proteins in the body under medical applications. I can't remember the full reaction as it was an awful long time ago!
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Mono ethylene glycol breaks down with the acid in the body to produce a toxic acid called oxalic acid which affects the Heart and kidneys.
Ahhh - that's why anti-freeze is particularly fatal for cats. How much is bad in humans?
Poly ethylene glycol is as it says - a polymer and doesn't react in the same way and so doesn't produce the oxalic acid. Instead it actually helps remove certain proteins in the body under medical applications. I can't remember the full reaction as it was an awful long time ago!
Its used as a laxative (Movicol, Laxido, etc). It seems to draw water into the bowel. When used in excess, it turns your poo the same consistency as Mr Whippy ice cream . . . . me thinks thats what they used in the 'Two Girls, One Cup' video! :booty: PEG can have some nasty side effects though - which arn't pleasant for anyone else in the vicinity! :sick:
They both produce the same visual reaction when mixed with H2O - very similar to alcohols . . . .
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Should I be answering questions about "bad amount for humans" on an open forum? :scared:
Let's just say don't drink a glass of it!
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Has anyone else found any further info?
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Has anyone else found any further info?
There's a few bits on Wikipedia. Tells you a little more. :happy2:
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Has anyone else found any further info?
There's a few bits on Wikipedia. Tells you a little more. :happy2:
Ahhhh . . . that fountain of heavily censored bias! :stupid:
Just don't get me started on their Tramadol article! :fighting:
I was trying to get info from peeps who actually work in the industry, rather than being bombarded by the bulsh!t which afflicts wikipedia.
Anyway, I take it say a mouthfull of dilute MEG wont do any permanent damage to moi? :chicken:
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MEG is a neddy no-no. Toxic in low quantities - more than 0.1 g/kg (0.09 mL/kg) means urgent hospital admission.
PEG sounds like it should be okay.
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MEG is a neddy no-no. Toxic in low quantities - more than 0.1 g/kg (0.09 mL/kg) means urgent hospital admission.
Well, it was about 9 months ago . . . and I'm still alive . . . I think! :laugh:
I was just wondering . . . probably about say 10ml of neat MEG . . . I'm what, 80kg (?? 13st). Any lasting symptoms I need to worry about?
PEG sounds like it should be okay.
PEG is Movicol - so I hope its okay! :booty:
It does give me EVIL f@rts though - I think my botty needs an ASBO! :ashamed:
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At 80kg, 7.2ml is the point at which you should seek medical attention.
I know you're not gonna go do anything stupid but I still feel I should openly state that taking MEG is harmful and potentially dangerous. It can royally mess up your kidneys, leading to disordered blood chemistry and hence death.
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:popcornsoda: I have no idea what your talking about but it sounds good :signLOL:
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At 80kg, 7.2ml is the point at which you should seek medical attention.
I know you're not gonna go do anything stupid but I still feel I should openly state that taking MEG is harmful and potentially dangerous. It can royally mess up your kidneys, leading to disordered blood chemistry and hence death.
I've had a shed-load of blood tests done subsequently, and they confirmed that kidneys and liver were all OK. An ultrasound showed up a 'small cyst' on my left kidley, but the horney radiographer, nor my quack seem concerned. :confused:
I'm only asking becuase a vet-assistant friend told me how lethal it was to cats, and that they had a spate of poisened kitties! :sad1:
10ml is probably a 'worst case' guess. But over the years, I've often gotten a mouthful (when either syphoning systems or bulk barrels - all legit - but sod all H&S, it would seem) - but like a good catholic girl I know, have always tried to spit rather than swallow! :jumping:
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:popcornsoda: I have no idea what your talking about but it sounds good :signLOL:
'Mono-ethylene glycol' (MEG) is the main chemical in engine coolant anti-freeze - apparently it is pretty nasty stuff if you drink it - especially if the thing that drunk it usually eats Kitte-cat!
A similar sounding chemical - 'poly-ethylene glycol' (PEG) is the main chemical component of an effective human laxative, sold under the Movicol and Laxido brands - over the counter or on prescription (well the 'medical grade' PEG - best not get in the same boat as those dodgy breast implants I have in my BigYellow storage! :evilgrin:). When you drink it - it does nasty stuff too - and is ideal to have large stocks of Andrex and AmbiPur - and maybe a peg for SWMBOs nose . . . and some cream for the subsequent Roger Banisters!
Oddly, when mixed with water (separately, not together), both MEG and PEG produce the same 'effects' when stirred. Similar say to if you were to add water to a glass of vodka //// hic ////