[PLUG-TALK] Button cell batteries, Denatonium nail lacquer

[Keith Lofstrom]

I plan to give pocket microscopes to some older children.
The microscopes use three button cell batteries to power
the illuminators.

Button cell batteries look like foil-wrapped candy to
small children.

Some of those children have younger siblings who might
get access to the batteries, and swallow them.  Swallowed
button batteries maim or kill 2000 children a year; three
volts across the narrow gap between the plus and minus
surfaces can burn holes in little stomachs.

The most bitter chemical known is Denatonium (benzoate and
saccharide).  The benzoate tastes very bad at 0.05 parts-
per-million concentration.  The lethal dose is 12,000
times higher, 600 mg/kg.  I'd rather die than be
force-fed 40 grams of the stuff.  Test rats concur.

Small children (and some adults) suck their thumbs and
bite their nails.  At least half-a-dozen companies make
clear nail polishes containing Denatonium benzoate;
sucking on treated nails tastes awful, which ends the
bad habits pronto.

I paid way too much for a 10 ml bottle of "Mavala Stop"
nail lacquer at "Ulta Beauty" today, and painted the edges
of some button batteries.  The batteries taste unpleasant,
but not "spit-across-the-room" unpleasant, which is my goal.

Amazon sells other brands.  I'll try Onyx "Stop the Bite"
next; perhaps that has a higher hurl-factor.  If necessary,
I'll buy a gram of "Bitrex" material and make my own
battery lacquer.

This belongs on plug talk because most of us own electronic
gizzies that use button cell batteries, and many of us are
fastidious about the social consequences of our electronics
consumption.  Perhaps we can develop this together, 
and save a few thousand young lives.

Keith

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com