The following research reports
are provided by the Dihydrogen Monoxide
Research Division as an information
resource to the general public, educators,
elected representatives, community groups,
safety advisors, and other researchers. These reports provide
a concise summary of polling and survey results and related
research findings regarding Dihydrogen Monoxide from
investigators all over the world!
Please Participate!
We welcome your survey results and experimental findings as well!
If your organization or educational institution, or even
you as a private citizen, would like to
be involved in this exciting and important cause, we invite
you to conduct your own research and submit your findings to
us via email at
.
We will post your results here on our web site for the world
to see!
Surveying Tips & Guidelines:
Inform participants of some of the dangers of DHMO. Try to
remain impartial so you do not unduly influence those questioned.
You may even have them view our main web site or
the Dihydrogen Monoxide FAQ.
Ask whether they would be for or against a ban of DHMO. Or
you can collect signatures on a petition.
Track all responses, whether for, against or undecided,
as you survey as many people as you can. The larger your sample,
the more valid your findings.
Send us your report when you are done,
including the title and
date of your report, total number surveyed,
number of responses for, against, or undecided, the name of your
school or organization, the names of all researchers involved,
one or more email addresses where we can contact you, and any
other interesting information or results. Send your report
to us at
.
Research Materials
If you'd like to conduct a survey but need the materials
or just a hand getting started, we recommend our DHMO
Educator's Kit. The kit contains all you need to
set-up and supervise a petition drive and other experiments.
You'll find it in our Online Store.
Survey Reports
The following reports are listed in reverse chronological order,
with the most recent results appearing first.
This landmark study, "The Westlake Experiment: A Student Survey to Ban DHMO" was part of a project for an AP Statistics course.
A total of 379 students were surveyed using a questionnaire
form that gave one of three questions and asked for
room/teacher and grade level.
15 of the surveyed students refused to respond,
so 364 responses were gathered. Here are the results:
Question 1
(Control). Should the substance DHMO be banned in the United States?
Total people surveyed
118
100%
Yes (in favor of ban)
40
34%
No (opposing a ban)
78
66%
Question 2 (Given information supporting a ban). Recent scientific
evidence has shown the substance DHMO to be extremely dangerous to life. It is
known to be a major component of acid rain and an important cause of erosion.
Nationwide, thousands of deaths are attributed to DHMO every year. Historically,
DHMO has been used in Nazi death camps as well as prisons in Turkey, Serbia,
Croatia, Libya, Iraq, and Iran. Despite overwhelming evidence of DHMO's
detrimental effects, people continue to be exposed to it, even in so-called
"organic" and "natural" foods. Should DHMO be banned in the United States?
Total people surveyed
126
100%
Yes (in favor of ban)
79
63%
No (opposing a ban)
47
37%
Question 3 (Given information on the opposing side). DHMO is a
naturally occurring substance that is highly beneficial to life as it helps
maintain ecological balance. In addition, it creates thousands of jobs and
generates billions of dollars of revenue. Despite overwhelming evidence,
some people still want us to get rid of DHMO. DHMO does not cause adverse
effects; in a recent survey, more than 90% of those who reported themselves
to be "very happy" have had exposure to DHMO. Should DHMO be banned in the
United States?
Total people surveyed
120
100%
Yes (in favor of ban)
33
28%
No (opposing a ban)
87
72%
Discussion This makes for a total of 152 "yes" responses favoring a
ban of Dihydrogen Monoxide, or 41.8% of the survey participants. Compared to
other studies in the past, the results of the
"Westlake Experiment" were much more undecided.
Question 2 clearly slants the question in favor of "yes," but the difference
caused by Question 3 was slight (though still statistically significant).
Since the students were stratified by grade, we also noticed that freshmen
(51.4% yes) were more likely to ban DHMO than sophomores (44.1% yes), who were
then more likely than juniors (35.8% yes) and seniors (38.6%). Some of the
dissenters have cited learning the supposed benefits of DHMO in their chemistry
classes. It is also noteworthy that, despite being given so many of the benefits
of DHMO, 33 students remained in favor of a ban of DHMO.
Berneka Cochran
Cornelius Coleman
Nicole Collins
Quanedra English
Ashley Felton
Jaquiez Harris
Jacquenesia Jackson
Xzavia James
Kha-yen Le
Brianna Nedd-Rice
Kimberly Ortega
Kanedra Sanders
Chazmine Tookes
Stephanie Tran
Crystal Walters
Date:
November 17-24, 2008
Results:
The largest study of its kind to date was undertaken by researchers in
Montezuma, Georgia in November, 2008. A total of 317 people were surveyed and
asked to sign a petition, with the results as follows:
Total people surveyed
317
100%
Signed petition favoring a ban
150
47%
Signed petition opposing a ban
167
53%
Did not sign petition
0
0%
Commentary In this extensive survey of 317 subjects, the counter-intuitive result of a
majority actually opposing a ban of DHMO was noted. Researchers feel that the
educational system may be to blame for these results, while others feel that
potentially it is a
variation on Montezuma's Revenge. The study concluded that Dihydrogen Monoxide
may be more critical in human's lives that is believed by some, so researchers
are recommending that it not be banned at this time, at least until further studies can be
conducted.
Report:
021308
Title:
Petition to Ban the Use of Dihydrogen Monoxide (DHMO)
Format Research was conducted as the basis for a project on knowledge issues which
was later presented to the class. Participants were chosen at random from Hoover
High School and a nearby neighborhood. Participants were given a brief summary
of data taken directly from the DHMO.org website and then asked if they would
sign a petition in support of a ban.
Other All four of the dissenters cited chemistry classes they have taken as the
reason for their opposition to a ban. This suggests a conclusion that is quite
startling: perhaps chemistry classes are being taught in such a way as to bias
students towards DHMO. Thankfully, as the data shows, most people either do not
take such courses or do not pay much attention in them.
Survey was conducted as part of 7th Grade Science. Students were surveyed to
determine how many were in favor of or opposed to a ban of DHMO. Voting was
tabulated and a report filed on May 8, 2007.
Survey responses are:
Total people surveyed
43
100%
Favor ban
32
74%
Oppose ban
11
26%
Undecided
0
0%
Students participating in the survey have subsequently reversed their ban of
DHMO, recognizing the ambiguity of its potential dangers vs. perceived benefits.
Survey was completed as part of a Global Science course. Students took turns
presenting information from the DHMO.org website. Once all presentations were
complete, they were permitted to ask questions and we would refer back to the
website for answers. At the end of the question and answer session, students
were asked to vote in favor or against a ban of DHMO. The voting was completed
on October 31, 2006, with over 70% voting in favor of a ban.
Survey responses are:
Total people surveyed
17
100%
Favoring ban
12
71%
Against ban
5
29%
Undecided
0
0%
Students participating in the survey have subsequently reversed their ban of
DHMO, recognizing the ambiguity of its potential dangers vs. perceived benefits.
This student survey was given to 50 students to see how they would react. They
were given a list of the dangers, uses, an places you could find DHMO. Over 3/4
of the students voted in favor of the ban.
Research performed as part of the pre-ap biology and pre-ap integrated
physics and chemistry (IPC) course work. Researchers, lead by Miss
Williams, polled members of
the school and surrounding community, who completed a brief questionnaire.
Questionnaire responses are:
Total people surveyed
518
100%
Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide
319
62%
Do not ban Dihydrogen Monoxide
109
21%
Undecided about ban
90
17%
Perhaps most surprising is the unusually low proportion of
those in favor of a ban. Historically, studies which explore
the public's desire to support a ban of DHMO produce 80-90%
in favor of a ban. These results are still being analyzed,
and some have proposed that an unusually high rate of
information literacy may have biased the results.
Report:
101400
Title:
Survey to ban DHMO
Organization:
Claudia Landeen School Stockton, California
Researchers:
Errol Reilly
Date:
October 6-13, 2000
Results:
Student survey conducted over one week period, gathered
opinions from a varied sample of subjects, distributed
as follows: 90% over age 18, 10% under age 18.
Survey questions were designed by student researchers,
and all polling was conducted by these researchers.
Questionnaire responses are:
Total people surveyed
228
100%
Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide
224
98.3%
Do not ban Dihydrogen Monoxide
3
1.3%
Undecided about ban
1
0.4%
Report:
90700
Title:
Notre Dame DHMO Study
Organization:
General Chemistry class Dept. of Chemistry & Biochemistry
University of Notre Dame
South Bend, Indiana
Researchers:
Jerry T. Godbout, Ph.D.
Steve Carroll
Date:
September 2000
Results:
Survey conducted as part of Gen Chem 1 class at
the University of Notre Dame, revealed that a general
ban of DHMO is supported by a majority of students.
After hearing about Dihydrogen Monoxide, including performing
online research, respondents were asked whether or not they
would support a ban of DHMO. The results of the survey are:
Should Dihydrogen Monoxide be banned?
Fall 2000
Support ban of DHMO
59%
Against ban of DHMO
41%
Undecided or no opinion
0%
A previous Notre Dame study conducted as part of
a Gen Chem 2 class in Spring 2000, resulted
in the following opinions:
Should Dihydrogen Monoxide be banned?
Spring 2000
Support ban of DHMO
86%
Against ban of DHMO
14%
Undecided or no opinion
0%
Survey conditions were informal, and further follow-up
studies are planned.
Report:
71399
Title:
Campaign to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide in Chemistry Laboratories
Organization:
The High School of Glasgow Glasgow, Scotland
Researchers:
Bobby Dickson,
Guy Sanderson, Margaret White, Tracy Hickman, David Cooper, Lee Dickson
Date:
March/April 1999
Results:
This campaign collected 341 signatures calling for a full ban on the use of Dihydrogen Monoxide
in the school's chemistry laboratories. In certain groups, 64% signed the petition without
a second thought, whereas in another group, nearly 61% were actually against the ban.
Some notable results of the campaign are:
45% of the teachers polled were in favor of the ban, although those asked
to fill in questionnaire were less likely than those surveyed verbally to be in favor of the ban.
The parent of one pupil felt strongly enough
about the matter to write a letter supporting the ban, not wanting her child or anyone
else's children to be exposed to the harmful substance.
12-18 year-old female students were most likely to
"stand up for their rights" and sign the petition, among those
surveyed.
Overall, the researchers found that easily 50% of those polled where swayed, at least
initially, by previous opinions gathered.
Report:
031599
Title:
Petition to Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide
Organization:
Fischer & Associates
Researchers:
Robert Fischer
Date:
March 1999
Results:
This on-going online petition collected over 50 signatures
in short time. The web-based petition describes a number
of the potential dangers and damaging properties of
Dihydrogen Monoxide. The site offers an easy fill-in
form interface to register your support. Currently,
no statistics are kept for opposing views.
Report:
120598
Title:
Ban Dihydrogen Monoxide Petition
Organization:
Leyada - Hebrew University Secondary School
Israel
Researchers:
Nir Soffer
Date:
October 1998
Results:
This online petition has gathered a total of 205 responses.
The results may provide insight into the Israeli perspective
on the Dihydrogen Monoxide debate. Most notably, a majority
(54%) are against
a ban of DHMO, in contrast to the typical
result in the U.S. of a significant majority (over 80%)
being in favor of a ban.
These results could indicate a different level of
knowledge about Dihydrogen Monoxide in Israel, or
it could mean that public perception there is that
Dihydrogen Monoxide is less of a danger. It is known
that there are areas of Israel that have relatively
low levels of DHMO.
The petition lists 16 consequences or dangers of
Dihydrogen Monoxide, providing participants with
three choices of a response:
Total people surveyed
205
Signed in favor of ban of DHMO
85
Against ban of DHMO
110
Undecided or no opinion
10
Report:
101298
Title:
Should Dihydrogen Monoxide be Banned?
Organization:
Chatham, Ontario
Researchers:
Chatham Residents
Date:
September 1998
Results:
This follow-up to the pilot study compared results of
a small sample (50) of Canadian residents with
early results from the U.S. Researchers conducted a
door-to-door survey, providing the following information
to each:
Dihydrogen Monoxide is found in all forms of cancer,
it is a major component of acid rain, if it is inhaled
in its natural state it is often fatal, in gaseous form
it causes severe burns.
Those in favor of a ban were asked to sign a petition.
Survey results are:
Total people surveyed
50
Signed in favor of ban of DHMO
44
Against ban of DHMO
5
Refused to sign petition
1
These results may suggest that the Canadian population
is similarly inclined to be wary of DHMO as the U.S.
population is. This study suggests that more research
is warranted.
Report:
060198
Title:
In Support of a Ban of DHMO
Organization:
Eagle Rock Junior High School Idaho Falls, Idaho
Researchers:
Nathan Zohner
Date:
April 1998
Results:
This pilot survey was conducted to test possible public
support of a ban on DHMO. Participants were provided with
a short list of the harmful nature of DHMO. Signers of a
petition were in favor of strict control or total elimination
of this chemical. Petition statistics break down as follows:
Total people surveyed
50
In favor of ban of DHMO
43
Against ban of DHMO
1
Uncommitted
6
Results indicate strong public support may be likely
in favor of a ban of DHMO, and more extensive polling
should be conducted to raise public awareness.
