Is it legal to pack D2O in luggage for a flight?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mesa
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Flight
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the legality and safety of packing deuterium oxide (D2O) in checked luggage for a flight on American Airlines from Phoenix to Albuquerque. Participants explore various aspects including regulations, potential hazards, and practical experiences related to transporting D2O.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that packing a liter of D2O should not pose any legal issues, citing its non-hazardous nature compared to other common items like laptops.
  • Others express caution, recommending that the airline be contacted directly for confirmation, as the final decision rests with them.
  • Concerns are raised about the temperature in the cargo hold potentially causing the D2O to freeze, which could lead to a bottle bursting.
  • One participant mentions that D2O is not classified as dangerous goods by IATA or the Department of Transportation, implying it should be permissible.
  • Another participant shares their experience of successfully transporting liquids in checked baggage, suggesting that D2O, which resembles water, would likely go unnoticed.
  • Some participants discuss the importance of labeling the bottle clearly as 'NON TOXIC' to avoid complications during security checks.
  • There are humorous exchanges regarding the potential for misunderstandings with TSA agents about the nature of D2O.
  • Participants also touch on the TSA's regulations regarding liquids, noting that containers over 100ml are not allowed in the cabin but may be permitted in checked baggage at the captain's discretion.
  • One participant mentions receiving a response from AskTSA indicating that checking D2O should be fine.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the best approach to take regarding the transport of D2O. While some feel confident about its legality, others emphasize the need for caution and direct communication with the airline or TSA.

Contextual Notes

Participants express uncertainty about the effects of temperature on D2O during transport and the potential for it to be flagged during security checks. There are also references to the broader context of TSA regulations regarding other substances, such as marijuana, which are mentioned in a tangential manner.

mesa
Gold Member
Messages
694
Reaction score
36
Hey guys, quick question, is it legal to pack about a liter of D2O in my suitcase (for check in baggage) on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix to Albuquerque? I have had surprisingly little luck figuring this out.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
Here is the MSDS:
http://www.sciencelab.com/msds.php?msdsId=9923682

I would say there is no problem at all.
If you want, you can contact the airline in advance, but I would just take it.
It's certainly less hazardous than a lap top.
 
If at all, then the amount (##1 l##) may cause problems. I would contact the airline in any case and ask, because in the end it is their decision as well, not only the official one. It might also be worth asking, whether the cargo compartment is heated or not. Otherwise your bottle or whatever could crash through freezing.
 
Why not contact the TSA (and AA)? If they make a negative decision, how much weight do you think "but a bunch of guys on the internet said it was okay!" will have?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: Lisa! and fresh_42
fresh_42 said:
If at all, then the amount (##1 l##) may cause problems.
That limit is only for carry-on items.
Here is a link to TSA's list of prohibited items:
https://www.seatguru.com/articles/tsa_prohibited_items.php

Items prohibited by TSA in checked baggage are: flares, gun lighters, gun powder, any type of explosive or realistic replica, any flammable liquids or realistic replicas, certain disabling chemicals and dangerous items (airbags, liquid batteries, etc), and marijuana.
 
Marijuana? Seriously? That's a joke, isn't it?

Edit: I haven't claimed to be prohibited, only that it may cause problems. It will probably be detected and as long as nobody knows what it is, it can cause trouble and eventually to not boarding it.
 
.Scott said:
and dangerous items (airbags, liquid batteries, etc), and marijuana.
I find it odd they have to specifically mention airbags. Who's bringing airbags onto a flight?
 
Mondayman said:
Who's bringing airbags onto a flight?
Takata sales-people? :rolleyes:
 
mesa said:
Hey guys, quick question, is it legal to pack about a liter of D2O in my suitcase (for check in baggage) on an American Airlines flight from Phoenix to Albuquerque? I have had surprisingly little luck figuring this out.
If you can pack water bottles, you can pack D20 in checked baggage.
It's not a controlled transport material by either IATA as a DG( dangerous goods), or by any Dept of Transportation.
 
  • #10
Deuterium isn't radioactive, and you are checking it, so I can't imagine they would notice or care. I have brought literal gallons of wine back from California in checked bags and never had a problem, so a single liter of something that looks, smells, and behaves pretty identically to water should be fine. Unless it has some odd X-ray properties that I don't know about that would show up on the scan... That would be a fun game to play... "Sir, why is this water so dense and sweet?"

EDIT: I've tweeted to AskTSA on twitter, they can answer all problems like this
 
  • #11
Aircraft holds can get quite cold. Any risk of the Deuterium freezing and bursting it's bottle?
 
  • #12
CWatters said:
Aircraft holds can get quite cold. Any risk of the Deuterium freezing and bursting it's bottle?

The flight from Phoenix to Albuquerque is pretty short, it should be fine
 
  • #13
Got a reply from the AskTSA. You should be fine to check your D2O
 

Attachments

  • TSA Answer.PNG
    TSA Answer.PNG
    21.3 KB · Views: 466
  • #14
Containers more than 100ml are not allowed in the cabin
Larger containers may be carried in the hold at the discretion of the captain
 
  • #15
Thanks for the tips guys.

I finally managed to get a TSA guy on the phone (easier said than done) and he said to simply label the bottle with its contents, along with 'NON TOXIC' and a phone number in case an agent had any questions. He said it was likely to be searched after x ray inspection, but not to worry about it.

Made it out to NM just fine.
 
  • #16
mesa said:
Thanks for the tips guys.

I finally managed to get a TSA guy on the phone (easier said than done) and he said to simply label the bottle with its contents, along with 'NON TOXIC' and a phone number in case an agent had any questions. He said it was likely to be searched after x ray inspection, but not to worry about it.

Made it out to NM just fine.
I'd be worried about how that conversation might go. You might be better off taking it to a priest to have it blessed so you can label it "holy water"!
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: StatGuy2000, BillTre and gleem
  • #17
russ_watters said:
I'd be worried about how that conversation might go. You might be better off taking it to a priest to have it blessed so you can label it "holy water"!
I think "heavy water" and a fantasy explanation of what heavyy means would do.
 
  • #18
fresh_42 said:
Marijuana? Seriously? That's a joke, isn't it?

As an aside, marijuana in the US is (currently) a Schedule 1 controlled substance, which means that any possession of such a substance is a violation of US federal law. And thus transporting it aboard a plane (since flights between states or overseas fall under federal jurisdiction) is a violation of the law. See the following Wikipedia article.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_Substances_Act
 
  • #19
StatGuy2000 said:
As an aside, marijuana in the US is (currently) a Schedule 1 controlled substance, which means that any possession of such a substance is a violation of US federal law. And thus transporting it aboard a plane (since flights between states or overseas fall under federal jurisdiction) is a violation of the law. See the following Wikipedia article.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_Substances_Act
This might be the case, I just wondered that it has been mentioned. I'm sure there are thousands of illegal substances out there which may not be checked in either. It's just that marijuana in the cargo department definitely does not represent any kind of threat, except that the dogs would go nuts, because probably the entire luggage would be contaminated.
 

Similar threads

  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
2K
Replies
13
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
4K
  • · Replies 19 ·
Replies
19
Views
2K
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 28 ·
Replies
28
Views
3K
Replies
2
Views
3K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
7K
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
4K
  • · Replies 6 ·
Replies
6
Views
1K