Study: Fracking chemicals found in toothpaste and ice cream

[Ichingcarpenter]

A study of one component found in the fracking fluid injected into shale to release oil and gas contains chemicals found in substances most people ingest all the time, including ice cream, laxatives and toothpaste, according to new research from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Though the fluid is mostly water and sand, many critics of hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, say chemicals added to the fluid contaminate groundwater. The new study suggests that additives found in one component, surfactants, which breaks surface tension to allow oil to be extracted, are no more toxic than common household items.

University researchers collected samples from fracking fluid surfactants in five states — Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Texas. The findings were recently published in the journal Analytical Chemistry.

“We found chemicals in the samples we were running that most of us are putting down our drains at home,” Michael Thurman, lead author of the study, said in a news release.

Oil and gas companies use additives during drilling, including anti-bacterial agents and corrosion inhibitors. However, the study focused specifically on surfactants. Other chemicals used are commonly found in hair color, IV fluids, laundry detergents, cosmetics and household cleaners, according to Chesapeake Energy.

The fracking process pumps high-pressured water, sand and chemicals underground to crack into shale. Sand keeps the cracks open so the oil and gas can be extracted. Anti-bacterial agents reduce bacteria in the water, which can produce corrosive byproducts, and corrosion inhibitors prevent pipes from corroding. During fracking, some of the same chemicals found in ice cream and toothpaste make water thicker to suspend sand, Chesapeake said.



http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2014/11/13/study-fracking-chemicals-found-in-toothpaste-and-ice-cream/

[RiverLover]

1. This is the oil industry's sad attempt to make fracking seem innocuous.

It sickens me.

[Recursion]

2. Ice, cream, Mandrake. Children's ice cream.

[drm604]

3. It also contains water. Water is harmless! (This is sarcasm for those who don't get it.)

Whether or not the mentioned chemicals are or are not innocuous in the amounts used isn't mentioned but, even if these particular chemicals are innocuous, what about all of the other chemicals that are present?

This is just the latest industry PR campaign which selectively discusses the apparently least harmful of the chemicals used and ignores the rest.

[Ichingcarpenter]

5. I agree since fracking companies won't reveal

the chemicals they use and only do it voluntarily.
Notice the 'hair spray' mentioned? Who pours hair spray down a drain? I remember the flame thrower it made for us as kids.

Sort of explains peoples faucets catching on fire.

[drm604]

6. If everything they used was harmless they would be shouting that fact to every one who would listen.

We would see public lists everywhere listing every chemical along with journal citations as to the total innocuousness of each and every one. The fact that they put out articles highlighting just the surfactants, just the things that are in everyday products, is very telling.

The selectiveness; the association with everyday products; these are hallmarks of a PR campaign.

[MisterP]

16. wanna bet they're also behind all those DHMO emails?

it's straight from Midland or Wilmington ...

[drm604]

4. And the there's this...

http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/pressreleases/lawsuit-filed-against-governor-kasich-and-odnr-over-radioactive-fracking-waste/

[Enthusiast]

8. I would expect nothing less from Kasich.

[bearssoapbox]

10. Damn!!!

Kashits is selling Ohio out(again) to corporations. (What else is new?)
There are several deep wells in our area that the fracking industry wants to use but local pols and Puckey(Rep.Jim Buchy) says that won't happen.
Yeah right. They'll be dumping here within a year or two.

He's already done so much for Ohio education, taxpayers, libraries, etc...

[Agony]

7. the issue is only partly about what goes down the hole

what comes back up the hole is worse…

additionally, as any industrial hygienist will tell you, the dose makes the poison.

you would think that we live in a world with exactly 2 colors or something?

if you pour a bunch of table salt in your aquifer is it still potable? of course it is, it's just table salt.

[Mnemosyne]

9. K&R nt

[raouldukelives]

11. How long til they are found to treat cavities? nt

[MNBrewer]

12. What is the conclusion of this scientific paper?

That the surfactants in toothpaste and ice cream are coming from fracking? I don't really glean that from either the newspaper article or the abstract of the journal article.

Note: I am opposed to fracking. I am also a fan of good science.

[Ichingcarpenter]

14. I posted this WP article for the obvious

propaganda and mind games it was trying to push on the public.. I would be interested in the real study plus the backstory of the WP reporter.

[My Good Babushka]

13. Oh good!

Some of the chemicals of "one component" are harmless. What about those other "components"?

[Javaman]

15. Mmmm, you can really taste the carcinogens!

but hey, my teeth look browner!!!