Warning, Yunzi Stones Are Dangerous To Health

[Bonobo]

[..]

looks pretty molten/liquid/fluid to me...
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPdk6PbFbZk[/youtube]

Oh. Thank you, learnt something again, I stand corrected.

I did read somewhere that Yunzi was a sintered material (even the Wikipedia page I quoted earlier says so), but, sadly, I don't remember my original source.

Anyway, now I know it isn’t so, thank you. (I really hate being wrong, but I love learning new stuff )

(just the video number, not the whole URL, then it works)

(fast forward to 02:07 and 03:40)

What still remains is that Yunzi is somewhat porous, that it is less smooth than glass (as anyone who has ever touched and seen both can attest).

<shrug>

And so, since lead is hazardous, I’d still recommend to stay clear of Yunzi that contain lead.


Greetings, Tom

[Aidoneus]

I noticed this post after I bought a set of these stones--even though I cannot find anyone to play with over the board. I never thought that solid lead objects, such as lead toy soldiers, posed a major health hazard as long as they are not ingested. So I checked OSHA (https://www.osha.gov/pls/oshaweb/owadis ... p_id=10031):

"Lead can be absorbed into your body by inhalation (breathing) and ingestion (eating). Lead (except for certain organic lead compounds not covered by the standard, such as tetraethyl lead) is not absorbed through your skin. When lead is scattered in the air as a dust, fume or mist it can be inhaled and absorbed through you lungs and upper respiratory tract. Inhalation of airborne lead is generally the most important source of occupational lead absorption. You can also absorb lead through your digestive system if lead gets into your mouth and is swallowed. If you handle food, cigarettes, chewing tobacco, or make-up which have lead on them or handle them with hands contaminated with lead, this will contribute to ingestion."

So, as long as I don't lick the stones or my fingers--and don't start snorting broken stones--I think I will be pretty safe. At least compared to all of the chemicals in my air, water, and food.

[xed_over]

(just the video number, not the whole URL, then it works)

Wow, that was not obvious. Thanks.

What still remains is that Yunzi is somewhat porous,

I don't have any to test, but I have my doubts here too.

According to the Wikipedia article posted in the other thread (and a few other links in a quick Google search for lead leaching), one could probably soak their stones in whisky for a while to leach most of the lead off the surface of the stones (assuming they are not porous). Just don't drink the whisky afterwards.

And while the lead content is already far below Health and Safety regulations, then it will be even less (for the truly paranoid).

[Mef]

(just the video number, not the whole URL, then it works)

Wow, that was not obvious. Thanks.

What still remains is that Yunzi is somewhat porous,

I don't have any to test, but I have my doubts here too.

According to the Wikipedia article posted in the other thread (and a few other links in a quick Google search for lead leaching), one could probably soak their stones in whisky for a while to leach most of the lead off the surface of the stones (assuming they are not porous). Just don't drink the whisky afterwards.

And while the lead content is already far below Health and Safety regulations, then it will be even less (for the truly paranoid).

To spare you (and your whisky) I believe that vinegar (or if you have it available citrate / citric acid) is the preferred method for leeching lead out of household items. I don't know that it will do it in large enough concentrations to cleanse your stones though.

[Tim C Koppang]

And while the lead content is already far below Health and Safety regulations....

I think this is a key point that people seem to be glossing right over.

[Hong Ny]

To be honest, I don't understand the discussions.

Lead is a highly poisonous material and can lead to health issues. Even in small doses.

If you don't care about possible health hazards, then play with Yunzee stones.

If you are scared of possible health hazards, don't play with Yunzee stones.

It's the same with any other dangerous material. (Smoking, alcohol, etc.)

You decide what you do to your body.

[Bantari]

To be honest, I don't understand the discussions.

Same here.

Dangerous materials are all around you, every day, all the time. In the air you breathe, in the water you drink, in the food you eat... wall-paint, plastics, carpet-cleaners, cell-phones, and so on... you can agonize over all of this if you are really paranoid, or you can decide that certain levels are safe and go on with your life. And try to minimize the big influences, its what you can do.

Personally, I think some of the stuff listed on the labels of the stuff you actually consume is much more dangerous to your health that the spurious amounts of lead there might or might not be in a Go stone which might or might not actually get into your system. Not to mention the stuff which is *not* listed on labels yet because nobody managed to force the corporations to disclose them. Yet. Or because it is not apparent that they are dangerous until the next generation starts dying off from some weird stuff nobody knows about yet.

I'd rather swallow a Go stone than eat at TacoBell or MacDonald, for example.
And having said that, I have done all 3, and I am still here and still healthy.

If the worst you think you have to worry about is the trace amounts of lead in Go stones, you must be living in paradise.

[Bonobo]

there _is_ a difference … lead accumulates, and … it makes dumb. Easy as that.

[dfunkt]

A woman walks into a doctors office and says, "I want to sue! My son is retarded after eating his go stones which contained lead."

The lawyer pauses a moment and responds, "Don't you mean your son is more retarded after eating his go stones which contained lead?"

[Drew]

with Yunzee stones

Yunzi. The "zi" bit sounds like the vowel in Sid or Kid. Not like bee or tree.

[moboy78]

So, I think it's really funny that everyone seems to be forgetting that even though Yunzi stones contain lead in them, the lead is only harmful if you ingest it. To do so, you must either swallow the stone (and if that hopes your more likely to die of asphyxiation than lead poisoning) or you must grind the stones into a powder and ingest the powder. Both of these things are something no sane human being would probably do. Parents worried about the adverse health effects of go stones should probably remember that the go stones look like m and m's and thus will be eaten by their children if left in an easy to reach place - lead or no lead. What's more, I think it's also worth noting that breakfast cereals have iron and zinc in them, but people still eat them. So long as the potentially harmful substances are kept to a healthy level, there shouldn't be any issues.

[Bantari]

So, I think it's really funny that everyone seems to be forgetting that even though Yunzi stones contain lead in them, the lead is only harmful if you ingest it. To do so, you must either swallow the stone (and if that hopes your more likely to die of asphyxiation than lead poisoning) or you must grind the stones into a powder and ingest the powder. Both of these things are something no sane human being would probably do. Parents worried about the adverse health effects of go stones should probably remember that the go stones look like m and m's and thus will be eaten by their children if left in an easy to reach place - lead or no lead. What's more, I think it's also worth noting that breakfast cereals have iron and zinc in them, but people still eat them. So long as the potentially harmful substances are kept to a healthy level, there shouldn't be any issues.

Even if you swallow the stone, will it dissolve in your stomach and be digested? Or will just pass through and a few days later you poop it out, lead an all?

[Uberdude]

What's more, I think it's also worth noting that breakfast cereals have iron and zinc in them, but people still eat them. So long as the potentially harmful substances are kept to a healthy level, there shouldn't be any issues.

This is stupid and dangerous advice. The body needs iron (e.g. for red blood cells) so some cereals are reinforced with it so we get enough. The body doesn't need lead, it has no known physiological use in the body and is poisonous, particularly for children.

[Abyssinica]

If there's a serious risk of a child eating the actual go stones, maybe they're too young to start playing in the first place.

[RBerenguel]

If there's a serious risk of a child eating the actual go stones, maybe they're too young to start playing in the first place.

Kids (and pets) wander around the house and can eat/lick whatever they fancy. Better if it is at least relatively safe (licking the ground is not particularly awesome either I guess)