• Melamine Found in Baby Formulababy's bottle image by Georgios Alexandris from Fotolia.com
  
  Melamine, according to the World Health Organization, is an organic base molecule containing a large amount of nitrogen that can be harmful when ingested in large amounts. While used mostly in plastics, in 2008 it was found in milk and powdered infant formula imported from China. Melamine was also associated with pet food that caused kidney failure in cats and dogs back in 2007. While there have been no official studies of the effects of melamine in humans, there are potential dangers that should be noted.
  
  

Bladder Stones

• According to a study by the World Health Organization, the over consumption of melamine may cause bladder stones in humans. Animal testing indicated a connection between the chemical and the formation of bladder stones. Approximately 51,900 infants in China were hospitalized in 2008 for urinary problems caused by melamine found in infant formula. Certain companies added melamine to milk to increase its protein content, which had diminished due to adulteration of the raw milk product.
  
  

Kidney Stones

• Melamine is shown to cause kidney stones when combined with cyanuric acid in animal testing, according to the World Health Organization. The combination of the two chemicals creates crystals that promote the growth of stones within the kidney. Cyanuric acid is commonly found in bleaches, herbicides and other disinfectants but not generally in food. It has not been determined whether cyanuric acid was a byproduct of the melamine added to the baby formula in China, or whether it was intentionally added. However, infants given the baby formula regularly formed kidney stones.
  
  

Kidney Failure

• According to the World Health Organization, the combination of melamine and cynauric acid can cause kidney failure both in animals and in humans. Kidney stones caused by the combination of the two chemicals block tubes in the kidney and stop any production of urine. This in turn causes kidney failure and can lead to death. In 2007 the combination of melamine and cynuric acid was found in a variety of pet food manufactured in China and subsequently caused death in a large number of cats and dogs. It was determined that kidney failure due to kidney stones was the cause of death. A large number of infants during the 2008 baby formula scandal also died from kidney failure due to kidney stones from the toxic melamine and cynuric acid combination.
  
  

Mild Poisoning

• While melamine by itself is not highly toxic in small doses, consumption of close to 6000 mg can cause poisoning and lead to death. The symptoms of melamine poisoning include irritability, kidney infection, high blood pressure, absence of urination over an abnormal period of time and blood found in the urine. Treatment such as surgical removal of kidney stones or infusion of fluids may be necessary for melamine poisoning.