News stories about the contamination of milk with melamine in China first emerged on Sept 11, 2008, and the situation has since become an international health scare. Melamine (also known as tripolycyanamide) is an industrial chemical in the production of melamine resins, which are used in laminates, glues, adhesives, and plastics. When added to milk, melamine increases the nitrogen concentration, which suggests a false increase in protein concentration. Melamine has low oral acute toxicity but excessive exposure in animals causes renal stones. When consumed by human beings, babies and children are affected the most because of their dependence for nutrition, compounded by immaturity of their organs, which renders them vulnerable to chemical damage.
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