Tell me more ×
Skeptics Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for scientific skepticism. It's 100% free, no registration required.
up vote 1 down vote favorite

Some relatives of mine think that drinking sea water is good for health, but I highly doubt it. They claim that drinking small amounts of sea water daily helps people to be healthier (reference provided by Oddthinking).

Is this regular sea water consumption good for your health? If so, is there any scientific research about sea water and health benefits?

share|improve this question
What benefits do they claim? – Oddthinking♦ Dec 25 '12 at 13:47
Well, they say that it has healing properties... – amb Dec 25 '12 at 13:50
4  
Welcome to Skeptics! We want to focus our attention on doubtful claims that are widely held or are made by notable people. I'm trying to help you provide some references to places where this claim is being made. Is this similar? harmonikireland.com/sea-water – Oddthinking♦ Dec 25 '12 at 14:25
2  
What quantities of water are we talking about? – Christian Dec 25 '12 at 17:05
1  
Sea water is too salty for consumption as a sole supply of water. Is the claim about mixing it with fresh-water and consuming an isotonic mixture, or simply having a mouthful of seawater as a medicine occasionally? – Nick Dec 26 '12 at 16:48
show 2 more comments

1 Answer

up vote 4 down vote accepted

No, it is toxic, causing convulsions, dehydration and death in mammals.

The toxicities of Na+, Cl- and Mg++ ions in sea water and in artificial solutions were investigated. Convulsions commonly followed intraperitoneal injection of hypertonic salt or sucrose solutions in rats, but the convulsions due to sea water and NaCl solutions differed from sucrose or urea convulsions. Respiratory distress preceded death. Even in thirst, little sea water was taken voluntarily. Salt solutions or sea water given by stomach tube caused dehydration. Plasma Cl- concentrations reached the same low level after lethal doses by either route. Dogs and seals vomited sea water from the stomach. Seals were not more resistant than the other mammals. The lethal dose of sea water for rats was decreased by previous dehydration. Some adaptation appeared after repeated sublethal doses.

—Toxicity of sea water in mammals by ALBRECHT, C. B., Journal American Journal of Physiology 1950 Vol. 163 pp. 370-385

It's a well cited 1950's article so I assume it's fairly authoritative.

share|improve this answer
The quote you gave only concerns animals. That is a good way to make hypothesis about how humans will react, but we cannot assume that humans will respond in the same way as animals. Is there any evidence that sea water is toxic to humans? – Chris Dec 27 '12 at 2:16
3  
Why wouldn't it be as humans are mammals? There's probably some other lesser research, however normally poisons cannot be researched on humans for ethical reasons. – Sklivvz♦ Dec 27 '12 at 3:04
Well fluoride has been shown to have neurotoxic effects in rats. Does this mean it will have the same effects in humans? – Chris Dec 27 '12 at 3:07
2  
The article is about mammals in general. The only exceptions are marine mammals who have specific resistances which are also studied. – Sklivvz♦ Dec 27 '12 at 3:09

Your Answer

 
discard

By posting your answer, you agree to the privacy policy and terms of service.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.