Hi glowsticks,
I believe you are referring to the ingredient, Luminol, which is
commonly used by law enforcement to detect the hidden presence of
blood, and is a reagent used in the Western Blot test for HIV.
According to Naval microbiologist, Rob Cheeseman, Luminol was falsely
considered banned in California during the 1980?s. Luminol is listed
today as a ?possible carcinogen?, but it is not, and never was banned.
Luminol is composed of carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen, and its
chemical name is 5-amino-2,3-dihydro-1,4-phthalazine-dione. Glowsticks
can feasibly pose a small danger to children, if they come into
contact with the broken glass inside the glowstick, or if the
chemicals get into the eyes, or have prolonged contact with skin.
http://www.scafo.org/library/110202.html
http://members.aol.com/profchm/luminol.html
?"Although we cannot declare that exposure to chemiluminescent
products is free of potentially serious consequences, our data
demonstrate that reported exposure to such products is unlikely to
result in significant morbidity or mortality," say Drs. Robert J.
Hoffman and Lewis S. Nelson Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent
Medicine 2002;156:901-904.
http://www.ravelinks.com/contents/chemical_contents_glowsticks.htm
Glowsticks also gained a somewhat tarnished reputation when they began
to be associated with Raves, even being considered as drug
paraphernalia at one time.
Glow sticks are used in Raves, along with the drug Ecstasy
http://www.denverda.org/html_website/denver_da/ECSTASY%20Introduction.html
?In early 2003 Senate supporters re-introduced the RAVE Act under a
new name (the Illicit Drug Anti-Proliferation Act). The new bill did
not contain a controversial ?findings? section included in the 2002
bill that essentially declared glowsticks and bottled water drug
paraphernalia and made it clear the legislation was targeting raves
and other electronic music events.?
http://www.drugpolicy.org/communities/raveact/legislative/
Today?s glowsticks contain one of two formulas for producing
chemiluminescence (a cold chemical light reaction, similar to a
firefly?s light) One formula consists of hydrogen peroxide, phenyl
oxalate ester, and a fluorescent dye--the light producing chemicals
are hydrogen peroxide and phenyl oxalate ester . The color of the
light comes from the fluorescent dye. Other brands of glowsticks are
made of sodium carbonate, luminol, ammonium carbonate, copper sulfate
pentahydrate, mixed with hydrogen peroxide and water.
http://www.aboutglowsticks.com/Glow-Sticks.html
http://glowproducts.com/faq.html
http://www.aboutglowsticks.com/Cyalume-Light-Sticks.html
Here?s how the glowstick?s chemical reaction works, from How Stuff Works
1. The hydrogen peroxide oxidizes the phenyl oxalate ester, resulting
in a chemical called phenol and an unstable peroxyacid ester.
2. The unstable peroxyacid ester decomposes, resulting in additional
phenol and a cyclic peroxy compound.
3. The cyclic peroxy compound decomposes to carbon dioxide.
4. This decomposition releases energy to the dye.
5. The electrons in the dye atoms jump to a higher level, then fall
back down, releasing energy in the form of light.
http://science.howstuffworks.com/light-stick2.htm
http://science.howstuffworks.com/light-stick3.htm
?Glow sticks are often worn as necklace and bracelet, so they meet
your skin directly. The materials in glow sticks are mainly made up of
fluorescent powder that can cause harm to your health if leaked or
broken. Glow sticks are also very dangerous for young children because
they may easily intake the chemicals and cause serious harm.
Body lights contain no chemical materials, and are one hundred percent
safe to wear.?
http://www.bodylights4less.com/why.asp
According to this Look Smart article, glowstick chemicals pose no danger:
http://www.findarticles.com/cf_dls/m0867/2002_Nov/94590442/p1/article.jhtml
The American Chemical Society classifies the chemicals in glowsticks
as fairly safe. ?The luminol solutions and the contents of a light
stick are reasonably safe. The light stick should not be opened
because of broken glass remaining inside.
http://jchemed.chem.wisc.edu/JCESoft/CCA/CCA3/MAIN/ILUMIN/SAFETY.HTM
From the Gotta Glow site, about their glowsticks: ?? The ampoule
contains a solution of hydrogen peroxide (a form of it is used as a
topical anti-infective) dissolved in phthalic ester. The chemical that
surrounds the glass ampoule is a phenyl oxalate ester along with the
appropriate dye. When you activate the product by bending it you will
hear a little snap. The snap you hear is actually the glass ampoule
breaking. The chemicals inside the ampoule are then released and mixed
with the chemicals that once surrounded the ampoule. Immediately, a
chemical reaction occurs and the molecules are energized. The
molecules release their energy as visible light. The process in which
energy from a chemical reaction is released directly as light is
called chemiluminescence. The chemicals are non-toxic and
non-flammable; however, they may permanently stain clothing,
furniture, carpet etc. Contact with the skin or eyes may cause some
temporary discomfort. Rinse thoroughly with water if the chemicals
come in contact with your skin or eyes. ?
http://www.gottaglow.com/gg/qa.html#q6
By the way, here?s how fireflies operate their built in glowsticks!
http://science.howstuffworks.com/question554.htm
I hope this has shed some light on your question, glowsticks. If any
part of my answer is unclear, or if I have duplicated information you
already have, please request an Answer Clarification before rating.
This will enable me to assist you further, if possible.
Regards,
crabcakes-ga
Search Terms
Glowsticks
Banned chemicals + glowsticks
luminol |
Clarification of Answer by
crabcakes-ga
on
16 Jan 2004 10:27 PST
Hi again, glowsticks,
MSDS are Material Safety Data Sheets, and are intended to provide
chemical safety information for workers and health and emergency
personnel. They are not really intended for casual consumers. This
means that if you use a certain chemical, say turpentine, on rare
occasion, you would not need to be overly concerned with the safety
data beyond the product label. However, if you worked in a turpentine
plant, you would want to know all you could about this product, to
avoid health problems from repeated exposure and to be prepared for
spills, accidents, fire, etc. An importer of a product containing
chemicals would of course, want to know all about the chemicals being
imported and sold. You can read all about them here:
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/faq/parta.html#whatis
Get any MSDS at this site:
http://www.msdsonline.com/
and this index of free MSDS (In an easier to read format)
http://www.chemed.auburn.edu/msds/
Here is an interesting MSDS ?De-Mystifier?. You can cut and paste any
MSDS document, and this site will ?translate? it for easier
understanding of technical terms.
http://www.ilpi.com/msds/ref/demystify.html
Here is the MSDS on copper sulfate pentahydrate. You can see that the
?Health Hazard? is rated a 2, of a scale of 1-3, 3 being the most.
http://www.chemed.auburn.edu/msds/coppersulfate.pdf
MSDS Sheet on Luminol:
http://www.chemed.auburn.edu/msds/luminol.pdf
I found no evidence that the chemicals in glowsticks are banned in
Europe. I did find that
Ammonium carbonate (or bicarbonate), one of the ingredients in
glowsticks, is uded in baking, in Europe ?? is also known by the name
hartshorn because it was originally produced from hart's horns and
hooves (hart is the name for a male deer). Today's commercial product
is a chemical, specifically the ammonium salt of carbonic acid.
Ammonium carbonate is used mainly in cookies and short dough to
produce a longer lasting crisp texture; it can also be used in pâte à
choux to give it an extra puff. Ammonium carbonate can be used as a
substitute for baking soda and baking powder but only in cookies or
doughs with very little moisture or in pastries that are baked at a
high temperature. Ammonium carbonate reacts to heat, producing water,
ammonia, and dioxide gas. It has a very strong odor that completely
disappears above 140°F (60°C). It must always be stored in an airtight
container or it will quickly evaporate. Ammonium carbonate is
available from any bakery supply store. It can also be ordered from a
chemist or local laboratory.?
http://www.chefbo.com/PPC_4_AT/excerpt.html
I did find mention that glowsticks are connected to Raves, and share
the same reputation as drug paraphernalia, just as in the US. This
reputation is connected simply with the *use* of the qlowsticks being
used while perhaps in a drug-induced trance, but the glowsticks
themselves are not involved in a chemical manner.
That said, the fact that a chemical is not banned, does not mean it
can?t be dangerous if used improperly. Almost any chemical, down to
chemicals we use daily, such as acetone(nail polish remover)
http://www.chemed.auburn.edu/msds/acetone.pdf
and caffeine can be a health hazard!
http://www.chemed.auburn.edu/msds/caffeine.pdf
Glowsticks are being sold in the UK.
http://www.fireworks.co.uk/party/
http://www.glowstick.co.uk/
And outside of Europe, in Australia
http://glowstix.com.au/frame.htm
A site that lists worldwide sites that sell glowsticks
http://www.wauu.de/Shopping/Toys_and_Games/Novelty/Glow_in_the_Dark/more3.htm
It appears that the two glowstick formulas that are most commonly used
are safe and not banned in the US or Europe. Should you find a
manufacturer of glowsticks you wish to import, compare the formula to
the MSDS and check the safety. The world of import/export is foreign
to me, but I would think that each country would have its own set of
laws governing what can be safely imported. Try checking with your
country?s Customs and Revenue agency to verify what can and can?t be
imported.
Hope this has helped!
Regards,
crabcakes-ga
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