RE: Could a human survive on D2O?

["Mcelrath Susan S." <MCELRATHS@rscpo1.wilm.ge.com>]

I understand that if a person drank only D2O for an extended time period, 
they would die, and the cause of death would be dehydration.  It has 
something to do with the polarity of the water molecules.  Chemically, D20 
shouldn't harm a biological system.  Not being a physiologist I can't 
elaborate more, but the explanations I have heard about polarity sound 
plausible.

Susan McElrath
mcelraths@rscpo1.wilm.ge.com
 ----------
From: radsafe
To: Multiple recipients of list
Subject: Could a human survive on D2O?
Date: Monday, May 05, 1997 11:30AM


I recall reading somewhere that plant seeds won't germinate on D2O, and that
mice offered pure D2O to drink die almost as quickly as mice that get no 
water
at all.  I can't remember the source, which was in the 70s and was something
like a book in the Scientic American series, not a journal article of any 
sort
anyway.

Can anyone enlighten me?  If i drink heavy water all the time i suppose my
weight would eventually increase from 70gk to 75, but will anything else
happen?

 -dk