Ted,
I had read that about that hoax as well. Classic hysteria by spinning some science terms. A very funny object lesson.
The wiki on it is worth a read.
On of the descriptors of DHMO - fatal if inhaled (we are talking about water) and related to the growing of food - in the distribution of pesticides. Even after washing, produce remains contaminated by this chemical.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dihydrogen_monoxide_hoax
"brought to widespread public attention in 1997 when Nathan Zohner, a 14-year-old student, gathered petitions to ban "DHMO" as the basis of his science project, titled "How Gullible Are We?"