Common chemical kills teen athlete

A 17-YEAR-OLD girl in America has died from overexposure to a chemical which is common in everyday products used by thousands of Irish people.

Arielle Newman, a cross-country runner at Notre Dame Academy, New York, died after her body absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory chemical found in Deep Heat, Germolene and Radian B products, as well as certain headlice and wart treatments.

It is also approved as an active substance in Merocet Mouthwash.