Gov't Study Reveals Fluoride's Health Risks
NYSCOF
levels deliberately added to public water supplies, according to data
presented in a recent National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) National
Research Council (NRC) report. Fluoride poses risks to the thyroid
gland, diabetics, kidney patients, high water drinkers and others and
can severely damage children's teeth. (1) At least three panel members
advise avoiding fluoridated water.
Panel members took several years to read, understand and discuss
hundreds of studies about fluoride's adverse health effects.
"Unfortunately, many fluoridationists are dismissing this voluminous
report as "only one study." It isn't. Many fluoridation promoters also
mistakenly believe this report has nothing to do with water
fluoridation at 1 ppm. However, it does according to several panel
members," says Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed
to Fluoridation (NYSCOF).
An Oregon newspaper reports, "NAS panel member Kathy Thiessen, PhD a
former scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory who has studied
fluoride for the EPA, said the report showed 'the potential is there'
that water fluoridation is unhealthy. As for the studies finding that
higher levels damage children's IQ, she said it's possible water
fluoridation levels may have a similar, albeit reduced effect... the
research suggests 'most people should minimize their fluoride intake'
- which includes avoiding fluoridated water."
"NAS panel member Robert Isaacson, PhD a distinguished professor of
neurobehavioral science at the State University of New York in
Binghamton, agreed, saying that the possible effects on endocrines and
hormones from water-fluoridation are 'something that I wouldn't want to
happen to me...,'" reports the Portland Tribune.
NAS panel member Hardy Limeback, DDS, PhD associate professor of
dentistry and head of the preventive dentistry program at the
University of Toronto writes, "In my opinion, the evidence that
fluoridation is more harmful than beneficial is now overwhelming and
policy makers who avoid thoroughly reviewing recent data before
introducing new fluoridation schemes do so at risk of future
litigation."
Drs. Isaacson & Limeback advocate a Maximum Contaminant Level Goal
(MCLG) of zero. Dr. Theissen says the MCLG should be well below 1 ppm.
(7)
The 12-member NRC fluoride committee unanimously decided that
fluoride's 4 milligrams per liter (4 mg/L) maximum-contaminant-level
(MCL) must be lowered. They concluded that healthy average adults
consuming 8 milligrams fluoride daily, via two liters of 4mg/L
fluoridated water, risk weakened bones, fractures, and stage II
skeletal fluorosis (pain, joint stiffness, pelvis and spine
osteosclerosis).
However, some high-water drinkers consume 8 milligrams fluoride daily
when only 1 mg/L is added to their water supplies, according to the
report.
"The adult daily dosage is equivalent to a 2.28 mg a day dose for a
child," says Chemistry Professor Emeritus, Paul Connett, PhD, Executive
Director, Fluoride Action Network.
Fluoride is also in food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, dental products,
pesticide residues, cigarette smoke and air emissions. The EPA is
allowing additional fluoride in foods via sulfuryl fluoride pesticide
residues. New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer wrote the EPA
that, ""...the tolerances established by EPA are not sufficiently
protective against adverse health effects," (5)
About 2/3 of U.S. water suppliers deliberately add fluoride chemicals
(mostly industrial waste silicofluorides) to reach 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L,
so-called optimal, in a failed effort to prevent tooth decay (6). But,
"fluoride is a water contaminant over 1.3 mg/L," the NRC reports.
"This report is misleading by suggesting that the problem has to be
studied to death before decisions can be made," says retired EPA
scientist, Robert Carton, PhD. "The safe drinking water act requires
the federal government to act if there is any indication of possible or
anticipated adverse health effects in order to protect the most
vulnerable subsets of the population," says Carton
"Fluoride has detrimental effects on the thyroid gland of healthy males
at 3.5 mg a day.With iodine deficiency, the effect level drops to 0.7
milligrams/day for an average male, according to the report," says
Carton.
Furthermore, studies linking fluoride to cancer and lowered IQ are
plausible, reports the NRC.
Eleven unions representing over 7,000 EPA scientists, engineers,
lawyers and others ask for a moratorium on fluoridation.(8)
The Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) of any substance in the water
supply is the unenforceable level by which no one is harmed. The MCLG
is purely based on science; while the MCL is a political number based
on ability to reduce fluoride levels.
"Based on the science reported by the NRC, the MCLG for fluoride should
be closed to zero," says Carton.
This is why the MCLG for fluoride should be set near zero and/or
fluoridation stopped. According to the NRC report:
A) Babies under one year consume over their adequate intake (to
avoid
moderate fluorosis) from the water supply alone at the
so-called
optimal concentrations (0.7 - 1.2 mg/L).
B) Some athletes, workers and/or military personnel already
consume up
to 10 milligrams fluoride from optimally fluoridated water,
alone.
C) "...severe renal insufficiency appears to increase bone
fluoride
concentrations, perhaps as much as twofold."
D) "The elderly are at increased risk of high bone fluoride
concentrations due to accumulation over time..."
E) "There are medical conditions that can make people more
susceptible
to the effects of fluoride."
F) "...several lines of information indicate an effect of fluoride
exposure on thyroid function...it is difficult to predict
exactly what
effects on thyroid function are likely at what concentration of
fluoride exposure and under what circumstances."
G) "...all children through 12 who take fluoride supplements
(assuming
low water fluoride) will reach or exceed [optimal]."
"There is no evidence that any US child is fluoride-deficient; however
The Centers for Disease Control reports that American schoolchildren
are fluoride-overdosed with from 1/3 to 1/2 displaying dental fluorosis
while tooth decay rates are climbing also. (5)," says Beeber
A Texarkana Gazette editorial reports, "While dentists still largely
believe the benefits outweigh the risks, fluoridation is no longer
beyond dispute. At the very least, the report indicates a need for
caution....Virtues and vices sometimes come in the same package. What's
good for the teeth looks more and more like it's bad for other body
parts. That's not a slam dunk, that's a trade off." (3)
Contact: Retired EPA Scientist, Robert Carton, PhD bca...@verizon.net
518-275-1731
Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network
http://www.FluorideAction.Net
Hardy Limeback, DMD HARDY.L...@UTORONTO.CA
Paul S. Beeber, Esq. NYSCOF President nys...@aol.com
References:
1) "Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's
Standards," Committee on Fluoride in Drinking Water, Board on
Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Division on Earth and Life
Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies of
Science. March 2006
http://www.nap.edu/catalog/11571.html?onpi_newsdoc03222006
2) "Fluoride foes get validation - Scientists: Substance less safe than
presumed: more research needed," by Nick Budnick, March 24, 2005,
Portland Tribune
http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=34527
3)
http://www.texarkanagazette.com/articles/2006/04/09/local_news/opinion/opinions02.txt
4) "GUEST VIEW: The evidence that fluoride is harmful is overwhelming,"
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/05-06/05-14-06/02opinion.htm
5) http://www.fluoridealert.org/nyag-sf.pdf
6) http://www.fluoridenews.blogspot.com
7) The 2nd Citizens' Conference on Fluoride: A Summary, Fluoride
Action Network
http://www.fluoridealert.org/conference/about.htm
8) "EPA Unions Call for Nationwide Moratorium on Fluoridation,
Congressional Hearing on Adverse Effects, Youth Cancer Cover Up ,"
August 2005
http://nteu280.org/Issues/Fluoride/Press%20Release.%20Fluoride.htm
SOURCE:
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.
Paul Beeber, President and General Counsel 516-433-8882
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804
http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof
Fluoridation News Releases
http://tinyurl.com/6kqtu
Tooth Decay Crises in Fluoridated Areas
http://www.fluoridenews.blogspot.com/
Fluoride Action Network
http://www.FluorideAction.Net