Why is Melamine such a health hazard?

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By now, Melamine C4H6N6 would have been the undisputed most popular chemical with a complicated chemical name of 1,3,5-triazine-2,4,6-triamine.

This is the chemical that was unscrupulous added, by chinese companies in China, to low quality milk to boost its protein content and make it look like thicker high quality milk that can be sold at a higher price.



It is widely reported that Melamine causes Kidney stones in children which can prove to be deadly. Indeed a few children in China already died from the adulterated milk. I decided to find out why Melamine is so dangerous.



Melamine in low doses is nontoxic but when combined with cynauric acid can cause deadly kidney stones. The natural question is: can Cynauric Acid be found in the human body that can produce such a deadly combination? The unfortunate but obvious answer by now is YES!



Cynauric Acid could be synthesised by the thermal decomposition of Urea and Uric Acid. The human body produces large quantities of uric acid. This chemical interacts with Melamine found in contaminated milk to produce kidney stones!



This is not all. In fact, experts in various articles that I found on the web is of the opinion that the kidney stones are just the tip of the iceberg. While stones can be removed easily, far more worrying is when melamine starts crystallising in small kidney tubes, or tubules -- long, winding structures that filter blood, reabsorbing what is needed and excreting the rest as urine -- which will block connecting ducts and result in kidney damage and even failure.



Ingestion of melamine may also lead to reproductive and bladder damage and possibly lead to bladder cancer.



Children exposed to Melamine in this China Milk Fiasco will need to be monitored for the long term. The true cost of exposure can only be calculated over many many years...



For now, me and my household will abstain from most form of diary products especially those from China. The consolation that I have is that AVA is systematically combing through the multitude of products and informing the public as test results are out. Let's take personal responsibility too and read the product labels when we buy - for now, maybe not so much the nutrition label but is it "made in China"?