Re: potassium permanganate and mold

[Guest guest]

>

> A few people on the sickbuilding list suggested I use ammonia to rid

> mold/mycotoxin cross contamination problem. > Thanks

> Jill

My container has a skull and cross bones on it.It is the pure pot perm

powder. ...google the msds sheet, it will give you a better idea.

kathryn

[Guest guest]

--- In , " kl_clayton " <kl_clayton@...>

wrote:

>

>My container has a skull and cross bones on it.It is the pure pot

perm

> powder. ...google the msds sheet, it will give you a better idea.

>

> kathryn

,

Since I was the one who first suggested the use of potassium

permanganate for the treatment of mold contaminated objects I find

this comment of yours odd and somewhat misplaced.

Yes, as most chemicals potassium permanganate can be dangerous if it

is not handled with caution, but the same applies to ammonium

hydroxide ( " ammonia " ), bleach, hydrogen peroxide and even

concentrated vinegar. In fact ammonia is probably much more offensive

than permanganate for someone who has MCS since it offgasses the

toxic ammonia gas.

The main danger of potassium permanganate is its ability to oxidize

organic matter. So if you ingest a lot of it, you'd be in great

trouble. If you put it in your eyes you'd be in trouble as well. And

as Jeff May alredy pointed out, it is particularly dangerous to mix

it with glycerine, ethyl alcohol or to add sulphuric acid to solid

crystals because it can form explosive or easily ignitable compounds

(Btw. its ability to make fire with glycerine can be beneficial: when

you mix these two you can make fire in case you don't have matches.

That's the reason these two substances are usually a part of the

survival kit.)

Apart from these several cautions potassium permanganate is pretty

safe and benign, especially in higher dilutions. It is less corrosive

on the skin than bleach or concentrated hydrogen peroxide for

example. It is often used for treatment of pools, wells, fish ponds

and aquariums. Also for disinfection of skin ulcers, fungal skin

problems etc. Actually it is one of the oldest disinfectants

( " Condy's crystals " as it was called at first were discovered before

bleach).

Here is more info about it:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_permanganate

http://www.epa.gov/OGWDW/mdbp/pdf/alter/chapt_5.pdf

I posted the suggestion for potassium permanganate because I believe

it can be used for decontamination of some contaminated objects.

Has anyone tried it?

-Branislav

[Guest guest]

> >

> >My co

> I posted the suggestion for potassium permanganate because I believe

> it can be used for decontamination of some contaminated objects.

>

> Has anyone tried it?

>

>

> -Branislav

>

Thank you very much for the additional info on this. When I first

bought it, it seemed like a good idea, but then the label spooked me.

I am not a chemist, only have a year of inorganic 20+ years ago, and

being chemically sensitive, well, it spooked me, as I said. I will

read the links you provided at my next online time. I appreciate you

giving me the extra info, as I feel much more comfortable with more info.

As I said in another post, I am recovering from an exposure to both

mold and chemicals, and have been down for a few days. That's what I

get for Christmas shopping. Hopefully I can check in again tomorrow.