New York -- January 19, 2007 -- Without fanfare or public announcement,
the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) posted a new fluoride caution on
their website - avoid mixing fluoridated water into concentrated infant
formula to prevent discoloring babies' new teeth. (1)
There is no dispute that too much fluoride causes dental fluorosis -
white spotted, yellow or brown and sometimes pitted enamel. The CDC now
admits that babies can ingest too much fluoride when fluoridated water
is mixed into their concentrated infant formula and foods. Fluoride is
added to 2/3 of public water supplies based on a disproved theory that
fluoride ingestion prevents cavities.
"Where's the media alert so that the parents, caregivers, healthcare
workers and legislators know about this," asks lawyer Paul Beeber,
President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation,
Inc.(NYSCOF).
A New Hampshire newspaper reports the federal Women, Infant and
Children (WIC) program still encourages mothers to mix formula with
fluoridated water. (2)
"The CDC leaves it up to groups like ours to share the bad fluoride
news," says Beeber, "And then they will probably criticize us for
doing so as they have in the past." (2a)
This is what the CDC's website says (1):
"It now appears that the amount of the fluoride contained in the water
used for mixing infant formula may influence a child's risk for
developing enamel fluorosis, particularly if the child's sole source
of nutrition is from reconstituted infant formula."
"If tap water is fluoridated or has substantial natural fluoride (0.7
mg/L or higher), a parent may consider using a low-fluoride alternative
water source. Bottled water known to be low in fluoride is labeled as
purified, deionized, demineralized, distilled, or prepared by reverse
osmosis."
"Using only water with low fluoride levels to mix formula will not
eliminate the risk of enamel fluorosis...Other factors that contribute
to developing fluorosis include swallowing of toothpaste and use of
dietary supplements that include fluoride (tablets or drops)."
The CDC reports that, "formula itself has low amounts of fluoride,"
[and] "when infant formula concentrate is mixed with fluoridated
water and used as the primary source of nutrition, it may introduce
fluoride at levels above the amount recommended to minimize the risk
for fluorosis."
What is recommended?
According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) (3), to avoid
moderate fluorosis (yellow or brown teeth), the adequate daily intake
of fluoride, from all sources, should not exceed:
-- 0.01 mg/day for 0 - 6-month-olds
-- 0.5 mg/day for 7 through 12 months
-- 0.7 mg/day for 1 - 3-year-olds
Babies, under one year, consume over their adequate intake from the
water supply alone at the so-called optimal concentrations (0.7 - 1.2
mg/L), according to the March 2006 NAS' National Research Council
(NRC) fluoride report (4).
The CDC reports, "one-third (33%) of children aged 12 to 15 years in
the United States have very mild to mild forms of this condition."
However, the CDC omits that about 4% have moderate or severe fluorosis,
according to the same reference. And up to ½ of all schoolchildren
have fluorosis when the "questionable" category is included. (5)
The American Dental Association's Fluoridation Facts describes
questionable fluorosis as "A few white specks or white spots." (6)
The CDC admits that "More cosmetically objectionable forms of this
condition can occur when young children consume excess fluoride from
all sources during critical periods of tooth development [up to age
8],"
Also alarming is that bottled water with added fluoride is now sold
with the now-contraindicated instructions to mix into infant
formula.(7)
Also little publicized is that the NRC report reveals that some people
risk thyroid dysfunction and bone damage from drinking even low levels
of fluoride; and studies linking fluoride to cancer and lowered IQ are
plausible.
Few know that too much fluoride can actually decay teeth.(7a) And that
the most widely used fluoridation chemicals, silicofluorides, are
linked to higher rates of tooth decay.(7b)
"Parents also need to be taught the fluoride content of foods in
easy-to-understand language, so it's possible to tally daily fluoride
intake and to be taught fluoride's adverse health and dental
effects," says Beeber.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has compiled fluoride content of
foods. (8)
NYSCOF warned the public about a research review published in 2000
showing infant formula mixed with fluoridated water leads to
fluorosis.(2a) Many published studies link infant formula to
fluorosis.(9)
A Tennessee legislator who is also a medical doctor asked all water
departments in Tennessee to shut off the fluoride because of health
concerns.(10) In Oregon, a fluoridation bill is stalled by a doctor and
nurse in the legislature citing health concerns.(11)
Contact: Paul Beeber, Esq. nys...@aol.com
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof
Fluoride Action Network
http://www.FluorideAction.Net
Fluoride Journal
http://www.FluorideResearch.Org
SOURCE: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc
References:
(1) http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/infant_formula.htm
Accessed 1/18/07
(2) "Formula, fluoride mix may discolor infants' teeth," By Mark
Hayward, Union Leader, Jan 11, 2007
http://tinyurl.com/35ot7c
(2a) http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof/_pgg10.php3
(3) The National Academies of Science, "Dietary Reference Intakes for
Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Vitamin D, and Fluoride,:1997
(4) The National Academies of Science, Committee on Fluoride in
Drinking Water, National Research Council, "Fluoride in Drinking
Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards," March 2006
(5) US Centers for Disease Control.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/figures/s403a1t23.gif
(6)
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/facts/fluoridation_facts.pdf
(page 28)
(7) http://www.nurserywater.com/home.html
(7a) "Dentistry, Dental Practice, and the Community," 5th edition 1999
Burt/Eklund
(7b) http://tinyurl.com/yq8y66
(8) http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Fluoride/Fluoride.html
(9) http://tinyurl.com/y58bfc
(10) http://www.fluoridealert.org/press/hensley.htm
(11)
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=11691548729511...
