Roman, OSHA is not very good at what they do. I await the study (probably from Canada) that says that too much oxygen is toxic in rats. A toxin is specifically a poison, as in snake venom. Then there are the substances that are poisonous yet may be useful in low doses for certain conditions, such as digitalis. Everything else can be toxic depending on the dosage. I am always amused when carbon monoxide is referred to as a poisonous gas, it is not poisonous as cyanide gas is. It is toxic as it is readily absorbed by the red blood cells and blocks the absorption of oxygen. So in high concentrations it is toxic (fatal), but not of itself poisonous.
One of the two forms of asbestos (the one with sharp edges) is carcinogenic, when breathed for years. OSHA requires that any building being renovated that has asbestos insulation must be isolated. How often have I seen six story buildings in NYC with a plastic shroud over the whole building (at tremendous cost) as they are being renovated and a bit of asbestos might get into the air. By the time the fibers are out in the street the concentrations are such that there is no danger. It takes years of breathing the stuff to gain a concentration that is carcinogenic. A toxin is a poison, and even small amounts have an immediate effect. An excess of any substance, no matter how benign may be toxic in the long haul. OSHA seems to have the view that anything that may be toxic in excess is therefore a toxin. Best, Jon ----- Original Message ----- From: "Roman Turovsky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Jon Murphy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "'[EMAIL PROTECTED]'" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; "Ron Fletcher" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2004 8:56 AM Subject: Re: Do pegs get smooth and begin slipping? > Jon, pretty much any saw dust is toxic (even pine). This is definitely > OSHA'a opinion. > RT > ______________ > Roman M. Turovsky > http://turovsky.org > http://polyhymnion.org > > > Poison needs to be absorbed or ingested (or injected, but avoid scorpians > > and venomous snakes). Either way it has to be loose enough, or floating > > enough, to get into your system. I'll lick that Laburnum peg, but I don't > > think I'll chew it up and swallow it (and my teeth aren't that strong > > anyway). > > > > >
