4 ms·

Radioactive isotopes in nuclear fuel: do not ingest. Radioactive isotopes in banana: consume away. Understand now? I'm not even defending anything other than

Radioactive isotopes in nuclear fuel: do not ingest. Radioactive isotopes in banana: consume away. Understand now? I'm not even defending anything other than how two things that vaguely appear contradictory, are in fact, not.

zmgsabst 2y ago
I don’t. Because your banana example doesn’t have additives meant to be reactive — so is unlike adding fluoride to water at levels which impact dental health.
- varenc 2y ago
  It's the concentration that matters. Toothpaste has over 1000x the concentration of fluoride vs 0.7mg/L as tap water. Many well water sources have naturally occurring fluoride that exceeds the additive levels.
  - ryao 2y ago
    Very low concentrations of medicine are usually ineffective at its stated purpose outside of pseudo scientific theories, so even if it is safe to ingest, it is not clear it is able to do anything for people’s teeth. That is why I do not understand how the two can co-exist. Either the concentration is so low that drinking it for dental health is pointless, or it is not something people should be drinking. If there was a middle ground, we would have a 1 a day pill for this and not bother brushing our teeth or putting fluoride in water.
    - thaumasiotes 2y ago
      > If there was a middle ground, we would have a 1 a day pill for this We do; fluoride tablets are common. > and not bother brushing our teeth Brushing your teeth does a lot of things besides applying fluoride to the surface. It's mostly about getting stuff that's already there off the surface.
      - ryao 2y ago
        My initial searches suggest that these are by prescription only. Do you have any information to the contrary? I did find toothpaste tablets, but those are meant to be used as toothpaste from what I can tell.
        thaumasiotes 2y ago
        > My initial searches suggest that these are by prescription only. Do you have any information to the contrary? No, I don't. Does that matter?
        ryao 2y ago
        This is not a one a day pill then. If ingesting it is regulated, that would be consistent with it not being something regular people should ingest regularly.
        thaumasiotes 2y ago
        It is exactly a one a day pill. What are you imagining?
- brianbest101 2y ago
  [dead]
- almog 2y ago
  Maybe another example will help? Chlorine for water treatment in the backcountry when applied to a liter of water: Ingest. Chlorine straight from a household bleach bottle: Do not ingest.

zmgsabst 2y ago

I don’t. Because your banana example doesn’t have additives meant to be reactive — so is unlike adding fluoride to water at levels which impact dental health.

varenc 2y ago
It's the concentration that matters. Toothpaste has over 1000x the concentration of fluoride vs 0.7mg/L as tap water. Many well water sources have naturally occurring fluoride that exceeds the additive levels.
- ryao 2y ago
  Very low concentrations of medicine are usually ineffective at its stated purpose outside of pseudo scientific theories, so even if it is safe to ingest, it is not clear it is able to do anything for people’s teeth. That is why I do not understand how the two can co-exist. Either the concentration is so low that drinking it for dental health is pointless, or it is not something people should be drinking. If there was a middle ground, we would have a 1 a day pill for this and not bother brushing our teeth or putting fluoride in water.
  - thaumasiotes 2y ago
    > If there was a middle ground, we would have a 1 a day pill for this We do; fluoride tablets are common. > and not bother brushing our teeth Brushing your teeth does a lot of things besides applying fluoride to the surface. It's mostly about getting stuff that's already there off the surface.
    - ryao 2y ago
      My initial searches suggest that these are by prescription only. Do you have any information to the contrary? I did find toothpaste tablets, but those are meant to be used as toothpaste from what I can tell.
      - thaumasiotes 2y ago
        > My initial searches suggest that these are by prescription only. Do you have any information to the contrary? No, I don't. Does that matter?
        ryao 2y ago
        This is not a one a day pill then. If ingesting it is regulated, that would be consistent with it not being something regular people should ingest regularly.
        thaumasiotes 2y ago
        It is exactly a one a day pill. What are you imagining?
brianbest101 2y ago
[dead]
almog 2y ago
Maybe another example will help? Chlorine for water treatment in the backcountry when applied to a liter of water: Ingest. Chlorine straight from a household bleach bottle: Do not ingest.