Should Fracking Critics Be More Worried About Toothpaste?

From Shale Energy Insider:

Now to the topic of our discussion, everyday household fluoridated toothpaste. It’s suggested that most of us practice and teach our children proper oral hygiene and brush at least one time per day, if not more.  The “Fluoride Action Network”(6) reported:

…..  “the FDA (Food & Drug Administration) has required that all fluoride toothpastes sold in the U.S. carry a poison warning on the label.”

….. “the label states, “WARNING: Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately.”

….. “each tube of toothpaste – even those specifically marketed for children – contains enough fluoride to kill a child.

….. “Poison Center Control reports between 1989 and 1994, 12,571 reports were found from people who had ingested excess toothpaste. Of these calls, 2 people – probably both children – experienced “major medical outcomes”, defined as “signs or symptoms that are life-threatening or result in significant residual disability or disfigurement.”

One final note, the label of a popular toothpaste states: “Active ingredient – Sodium fluoride 0.243%.” No other ingredients are specified. One would think that it would be somewhat important to know the composition of the remaining 99.757%.  Direct searches using for example “toothpaste ingredients” did not provide hits giving the other ingredients. A roundabout search found that some toothpaste may contain: sorbitol, a liquid that keeps toothpaste from drying out, is a laxative that could cause diarrhea in children; and sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient that makes toothpaste foam, can also be a diarrheic.

In closing, the witch hunt over hydraulic fracturing can be surmised in one word “HYPOCRISY.” This is another great example of the imbalance of the balance of justice. Every day society holds back the shale gas industry is another day more dollars are exported for foreign oil, the environment is further harmed with dirty coal, and the hole gets deeper and darker.

To the extent that hydraulic fracturing has resulted in few if any substantiated health problems, is a proven technology with a 60 year history, occurs thousands of feet below overlying aquifers and hard non-porous rock, and employs a fluid with publically disclosed chemical additives; alcohol and toothpaste unequivocally pose a much higher risk to human health and safety.

You can read the whole article here.

What do you think of this line of reasoning?  Share your comments below.

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