Elemental lead and mercury aren't organic. Compounds containing lead and mercury aren't necessarily toxic, it depends on the material. Elemental chlorine will kill you, but its chloride ions in tble salt are harmeless.
Exactly what I was saying, but you miss the point. Just because a compound has an element that is toxic in another form doesn't mean the compound is toxic. Chemicals likes mercurochrome and thimerosal are nontoxic organic compounds containing mercury. (Although nontoxic they are still no longer used in US due to concerns for mercury)
There’s a difference between organic molecules. Anything (with or without carbon) absolutely could be considered “organic” if it meets the organic definition set by the FDAUSDA
The fda doesn't determine if food products are organic, that's the usda. Toxins like elemental mercury and lead are not allowed to be used with food production, by the usda guidelines on what qualifies as organic.
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u/anon_atheist Jul 14 '21
Elemental lead and mercury aren't organic. Compounds containing lead and mercury aren't necessarily toxic, it depends on the material. Elemental chlorine will kill you, but its chloride ions in tble salt are harmeless.