Jill,
I have read that those apricot nut slivers can cause microscopic tears in the skin, leaving it open to infection, maybe. Yer better off with the salt, sugar or baking soda.

About the launchers: I got a laugh out of that too. That said, all the micro beads and launchers in the world prob. aren't as bad as disposable diapers filling our landfills, not to mention the slobs who just leave em in a parking lot.

Let's face it - we are too many people fouling a too small nest. Where will the breaking point be?