HHS: All Infant Formulas Contain Fluoride; Avoid Mixing with Fluoridated Water

[NYSCOF]

New York – March 10, 2011 -- All infant formulas, either concentrated
or ready-to-feed, already contain some fluoride and, when routinely
mixed with fluoridated water, increase the risk of dental fluorosis
(discolored teeth), according to Dr. Howard Koh, Assistant Secretary
for Health, US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in a
video commentary published on Medscape.com, March 8, 2011. (1)

Fluoride, added to water supplies ostensibly to reduce tooth decay, is
also in food, beverages, dental products, medicines, and anesthesia
and inhaled from ocean mist and air pollution. As a result, more than
41% of adolescents are fluoride-overdosed and afflicted with dental
fluorosis - over 3% of it is moderate to severe (brown stains and
pitting), according to the Centers for Disease Control. (2)

The Environmental Protection Agency says, “Exposure to excessive
consumption of fluoride over a lifetime may lead to increased
likelihood of bone fractures in adults, and may result in effects on
bone leading to pain and tenderness.” (3)

“However, no one is studying US children with dental fluorosis to
learn whether they also have fluoride-damaged bones or any other
fluoride-induced health problems,” says attorney Paul Beeber,
President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
“Absence of evidence shouldn’t be misinterpreted as absence of harm.”

According to a Journal of the American Dental Association study, "Most
infants from birth to age 12 months who consume predominantly powdered
and liquid concentrate formula are likely to exceed the upper
tolerable limit [of fluoride] if the formula is reconstituted with
optimally fluoridated water (0.7 - 1.2 ppm).” (October 2009)

HHS recently lowered recommended water fluoride levels to 0.7 ppm.

Beeber says,”Clearly, this level is still unsafe for babies. Through
water fluoridation, government officials irresponsibly prescribe
uncontrolled fluoride doses into children’s bodies without monitoring
for harmful health effects. Fluoridation must be stopped nation-
wide.”

Koh says, “…tooth enamel formation occurs from birth until about 8
years old. This is also the time when dental fluorosis may occur with
excess fluoride consumption.”

Koh advises low-fluoride bottled water be used for routinely
reconstituting infant formula.

Fluoride, neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy teeth, was
never FDA safety-tested for human ingestion. FDA regulates fluoridated
toothpaste as a drug for topical application which requires poison
warning labeling.

Twenty-four studies link fluoride to lower IQ in children and 100
animal studies link fluoride to brain damage. (4)

According to a study in The Anatolian Journal of Cardiology ”Fluorosis
has some hormonal, gastrointestinal, hematological, skeletal, renal,
respiratory, cardiovascular, immunological, neurological and
development side effects.” (5)

References:

1) Government Perspectives on Healthcare

HHS: Proposed Guidelines on Fluoride in Drinking Water

A Commentary By Howard K. Koh, MD, MPH

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/738322


2) http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db53.htm

3) http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/fluoride.cfm#three

4) http://fluoridealert.org/iq.studies.html

5) http://www.anakarder.com/eng/yazilar.asp?yaziid=1877&sayiid=32

Fluoride levels of infant formulas: http://jada.ada.org/cgi/content-nw/full/140/10/1228/T1