Will your toothpaste kill you?

My boyfriend likes to throw his hands up in the air and scream at every new thing that I find to add to my list of things to avoid. He is very fond of saying that "in the right dosage anything will kill you." He is also fond of saying that I can't eat anything except lettuce (and maybe sawdust and grass). I always retort that "if it's good for the cows then it's good for me." I know that it drives him crazy; however, I believe that there are some things that are best to not be used at all.

Does it strike anybody as wrong that there is a substance in toothpaste, and sunscreen, and various other personal care products, that can also be found as a coloring agent in some foods? Also, that the same substance found in all of these different places is carcinogenic? Additionally, it can cause immunotoxicity, has occupational hazards, organ system toxicity, skin/eye/lung irritation, and can cause changes on the cellular level (1). This does not sound like something that I would want anywhere near me, much less in my mouth!

If one was to Google the Material Safety Data Sheet for this substance then one would find the statement, "May cause gastrointestinal (digestive) tract irritation with nausea, vomiting and diarrhea (2)." I am not entirely certain how much titanium dioxide would have to be consumed in order for these effects to occur; however, the fact that this is an additive for coloring in various food products is appalling. Interestingly, in the same data sheet, protective equipment used while handling this substance: gloves, lab coat, dust respirator, and safety glasses are listed. These are things that are used in order to keep something off the body, or out of the body. If that much precaution is used in its handling, why would I want it inside of me (regardless of the amount)?

The earlier statement, about how anything in the right amount could kill you, needs to be reiterated. While that may be true, and while it may not seem that by eating a Little Debbie snack cake might not warrant a national emergency, one has to consider how much of this substance we, as consumers, are actually in-taking on a daily basis. It can be found in deodorant. It can be found in food. And I know I have seen it in toothpaste ingredients. The Environmental Working Group's website also specifies other places and names that it can be found under. Given all of this, it can be assumed that we are all probably getting more titanium dioxide in our systems in a month than we should in an entire lifetime. It would be one thing if it was an occasional use; then it might not be as big a deal to consume it (especially since, presumably, the amount of this chemical in personal care and food products is minimal). However, when it is in things that normal people use everyday (while getting ready to start the day, and while getting ready for bed) then I see this as a problem.

Disturbingly, it is difficult to escape this chemical. Before I was aware of the health risks that titanium dioxide can pose, I purchased some vegetarian friendly hand lotion. Titanium dioxide is one of the listed ingredients. In parentheses it describes it as being from a plant. The questions that I have, that I have been unable to find the answer: is there a difference between vegetable derived titanium dioxide and non-vegetable based? Is there such a thing as different kinds of titanium dioxide? Is one safer than the other? Or is there just one universal version of this chemical? And, why would anybody want to pay $10 for something that purports to be vegetarian (and by implication, better than chemical and animal-derived sludge) and yet still contains things that are unnecessary for the existence of the product? As far as I have read, there is no nutritional value to the consumption or use of this chemical. So why does it exist? Or, more importantly, why do companies use it?

When discussing and thinking about these chemicals there are more questions than answers. However, quite simply, I would like to be able to brush my teeth (so my teeth do not rot out of my head), and not have to wonder if I am going to have some serious health issue as a result!

(1) Environmental Working Group
(2) Material Safety Data Sheet