toxicity of urine vs. whiskey

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Bernhard Kuemel - 21 Dec 2006 22:02 GMT

Hi sm!

Which is more toxic to healthy, adult humans? Say, 40% vol whiskey
and normal urine from healthy, adult humans. Is the LD50 (oral) of
whiskey lower than that of urine? How about chronic consumption?

Thanks, Bernhard

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Caustic - 22 Dec 2006 06:30 GMT

> Hi sm!
>
> Which is more toxic to healthy, adult humans? Say, 40% vol whiskey
> and normal urine from healthy, adult humans. Is the LD50 (oral) of
> whiskey lower than that of urine? How about chronic consumption?

I am not a toxicologist but am confident that 40% volume whiskey is much
more toxic than urine in both the short and long term. In some cultures,
human or animal urine is drunk on religious grounds, or as part of
alternative medicine, without any noticeable harmful effects. Human urine is
normally about 96% water and the remaining 4% is low toxicity.

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bae@cs.toronto.no-uce.edu - 22 Dec 2006 17:09 GMT

>> Hi sm!
>>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
>alternative medicine, without any noticeable harmful effects. Human urine is
>normally about 96% water and the remaining 4% is low toxicity.

While the LD-50 of alcohol is certainly lower than that of urine, you can
get hepatitis A and a number of other diseases from such a small amount of
urine that the equivalent in alcohol wouldn't even give you a buzz. Note
that "normal, healthy adult humans" can carry and spread hep A as well as
other pathogens.

So it's apples and oranges here. What's the point?

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GatherNoMoss - 22 Dec 2006 17:41 GMT

Urine is completely sterile in healthy human beings.

Should one find oneself in an environment of extreme
dehydration...urine can be consumed.

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Caustic - 22 Dec 2006 18:12 GMT

> Urine is completely sterile in healthy human beings.

Apart from a few bacteria from around the urethral meatus, but which should
be destroyed by gastric hydrochloric acid.

> Should one find oneself in an environment of extreme
> dehydration...urine can be consumed.

True.

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