Melamine is an organic base chemical most commonly found in the form of white crystals rich in nitrogen. It is usually used in plastics, adhesives, countertops, dishware, whiteboards.
Figure 1: Melamine plates (image from google)
In China, water has been added to raw milk to increase its volume, so with this addition the milk has a lower protein concentration. Some companies are using melamine to increases the nitrogen on milk because its apparent prontein content. Some years ago, melamine was found in pet food in the United States, what caused a large number of deaths in dogs and cats.The melamine in humans, when it is combined with cyanuric acid can form crystals that can give rise to kidney stones. The small crystals can block the small tubes in the kidney potentially stopping the production of urine, causing kidney failure and, in some cases, death. Melamine has also been shown to have carcinogenic effects in animals.
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