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A comment on Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of Covid-19, research says. Parent comment

Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by dekhn on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:16PM (#24665389)
Why would you gargle TCP? [edit: this was a confusion between an antiseptic whose name is TCP, and a chemical which is acronymmed as TCP. The former is mostly phenol (which I wouldn't recommend drinking, but apparently has been approved for that), the latter is a dangerous industrial solvent which you should not drink.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by chrisseaton on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:32PM (#24665561)
That's what it's for.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.3917.pdf

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by dekhn on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:55PM (#24665848)
Is that the same thing? I'm talking about this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,2,3-Trichloropropane

you're talking about this: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TCP_(antiseptic)

Based on the context, I now think the person was gargling the antiseptic called TCP, which is really phenol (a totally different chemical from TCP). So I think I understand the confusion now.

When using TLAs for chemicals, it's often better to write out the full chemical name instead. When I say "IPA" I mean isopropyl alcohol but everything thinks I mean beer.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by mr_custard on Friday October 02, 2020 @04:26PM (#24666691)
It's just one of those things where the different context between countries doesn't translate well.

In the UK, if you say "TCP" everybody knows that you're talking about the antiseptic phenolic liquid that can be used for gargling but never swallowed. It's present in most househould medicine cabinets.

It's important to note here, given that the subject is loss of the sense of taste and smell, that this stuff absolutely reeks.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by TeMPOraL on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:39PM (#24666316)
> When I say "IPA" I mean isopropyl alcohol but everything thinks I mean beer.

Somewhere around April/May, everyone in my circles and all their dogs were suddenly talking about "IPA". I was very, very confused until I eventually figured out they didn't mean the beer.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by roywiggins on Friday October 02, 2020 @07:02PM (#24667905)
TCP (the antiseptic) is more of a brand name. It was named after a chemical but doesn't contain that chemical at all anymore; "TCP" in this context is just referring to the brand name. If you gargle TCP you're gargling whatever whatever mixture of phenols they put in it now, not trichlorophenylmethyliodosalicyl.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by userbinator on Friday October 02, 2020 @08:07PM (#24668308)
I thought it was this even scarier chemical, also with the same acronym: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tricresyl_phosphate
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by glouwbug on Saturday October 03, 2020 @12:42AM (#24669583)
TCP is a bit easier on the throat than UDP
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by jbay808 on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:40PM (#24665645)
I've done this on a dental surgeon's recommendation. It's really unpleasant and tastes revolting but it's effective.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by throwaway_pdp09 on Friday October 02, 2020 @06:00PM (#24667443)
Effective for what?
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by jbay808 on Friday October 02, 2020 @10:59PM (#24669124)
Killing anything in your mouth that might try to start an infection. And making your next meal less enjoyable.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by anoncake on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:28PM (#24666196)
To test your sense of taste?
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by roywiggins on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:22PM (#24665453)
As a sore throat remedy probably.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by arcticbull on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:31PM (#24665551)
"TCP is recognized in California as a human carcinogen, and extensive animal studies have shown that it causes cancer. Short term exposure to TCP can cause throat and eye irritation and can affect muscle coordination and concentration. Long term exposure can affect body weight and kidney function."

Doesn't sound like something one should gargle tho.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by chrisseaton on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:33PM (#24665571)
It's literally the intended correct medical use.

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.3917.pdf

> TCP is recognized in California as a human carcinogen, and extensive animal studies have shown that it causes cancer.

They also say that about coffee in California.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by dekhn on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:57PM (#24665866)
You don't want to drink this, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1,2,3-Trichloropropane and the data supporting it is far better than coffee. (the california law is stupid, but some of the things it lists actually are dangerous).
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by laumars on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:07PM (#24665977)
Different TCP. Unsurprisingly, those 3 letters are used in a variety of applications, often in overlapping domains.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by chrisseaton on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:09PM (#24665994)
Should be able to guess which given that we're talking about gargling it for its antiseptic qualities.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by dekhn on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:15PM (#24666054)
I've never heard of TCP, I don't think it's marketed in the US at all.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by DanBC on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:55PM (#24666443)
It's a traditional antiseptic introduced in the UK in the 1920s. It has a strong, somewhat medicinal, smell. I gargled it once, and regretted it because it tastes foul.

http://www.capetalk.co.za/articles/303079/new-antiseptic-tcp...

https://www.wilko.com/en-uk/tcp-antiseptic-liquid-200ml/p/02...

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by roywiggins on Friday October 02, 2020 @06:53PM (#24667851)
Ah, that's how you know it must work. The worst tasting a medicine is, the better it must be for you. Stands to reason.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by gerdesj on Friday October 02, 2020 @07:12PM (#24667975)
It is effective against gingivitis and mouth ulcers and will also ward off vampires and werewolves. Actually smells better than garlic and is cheaper than silver, so win win.

It really isn't that bad to gargle but not particularly pleasant either. It is effective though and that's the real point.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by foxyv on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:49PM (#24665757)
There are carcinogens and there are CARCINOGENS. Hot water is technically a carcinogen. Drinking water that is too hot can increase the risk of throat cancer. This doesn't mean we can't use them. We just have to be aware of the risks.

https://www.nhs.uk/news/cancer/drinking-very-hot-tea-linked-...

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by dahfizz on Friday October 02, 2020 @05:59PM (#24667436)
> We just have to be aware of the risks.

No, not if the "risks" is comically small. The warning label becomes meaningless when applied to anything with an astronomically low chance of causing cancer.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by slimsag on Saturday October 03, 2020 @02:38AM (#24670101)
Like seaweed snacks...
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by pc86 on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:48PM (#24665749)
The list of things California says doesn't cause cancer is much smaller than its list of recognized human carcinogens. And animals studies are not 1:1 to humans.

It's literally a medical antiseptic designed to be gargled after dilution.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by gmadsen on Friday October 02, 2020 @05:56PM (#24667418)
there is confusion in this thread due to multiple chemicals having the initials TCP, one is an antiseptic the other is a harsh solvent
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by unishark on Friday October 02, 2020 @07:46PM (#24668190)
Wouldn't be surprised if both are on the list. Alcohol based mouthwash has a warning label about causing cancer too.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by Talanes on Sunday October 04, 2020 @12:33AM (#24676550)
Baked goods carry a warning label about causing cancer. I'm convinced this is some sort of live study about warning dilution.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by qz2 on Friday October 02, 2020 @02:44PM (#24665703)
To be fair my multimeter has that cancer warning on it from California. A multimeter!?!?
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by berkut on Friday October 02, 2020 @06:52PM (#24667849)
My new Fender guitar had a warning printed out in the case saying the product contains chemicals known to cause cancer...

Titled: California Proposition 65 Warning

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by arcticbull on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:25PM (#24666172)
Probably not RoHS compliant :)
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by qz2 on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:44PM (#24666357)
It’s definitely RoHS compliant as I’m in the UK and it says it is on the box.

Fluke 87V so not some cheapy banger.

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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by schoen on Friday October 02, 2020 @03:40PM (#24666321)
My guess is lead solder, although there are lots of other possibilities.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by arcticbull on Friday October 02, 2020 @04:07PM (#24666543)
I believe lead-free solder is required for RoHS compliance.
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by Rebelgecko on Friday October 02, 2020 @04:26PM (#24666695)
I would not put too much stock in Prop 65 warnings. Any restaurant with grilled or fried food is required to have them. Eyeglasses are known to cause cancer in CA. Until recently, so was coffee (buy after a long legal battle, coffee is no longer known to cause cancer here)
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Re:Loss of smell could be a 'highly reliable indicator' of C... by gautamdivgi on Friday October 02, 2020 @05:48PM (#24667353)
California should label things that don’t cause cancer. It’ll be a shorter list. My doormats have the same warning (at least the carcinogen part).
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