LA to Mandate Fluoridation despite evidence of harm
nyscof
New York – June 2 -- Ignoring scientific evidence of harm, the
Louisiana State Senate passed a fluoridation mandate bill which, if
approved by the House, will require fluoride chemicals be added to
most of Louisiana’s public water supplies ostensibly to reduce tooth
decay. (The Advocate, 5/29/08) (1)
However, a 2006 review of fluoride toxicology literature conducted by
the prestigious National Research Council (NRC) reveals that ingested
fluoride, even at low levels used for fluoridation, poses risks to
infants, diabetics, kidney patients, high water drinkers and those
with low thyroid function. Many cities are stopping fluoridation. (2)
“Sadly, fluoridation proponents orchestrated and paid for a slick but
inaccurate PR campaign. As a result legislators have only heard one
side of the story,” says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director,
Fluoride Action Network.
Connett urges Louisianans to contact their House representatives to
stop the money-wasting fluoridation mandate at http://la.fluoridealert.org
, or call their representative at 225-342-6945.
With American Dental Association funding, the Louisiana Dental
Association (LDA) hired public relations and lobbying firms to promote
fluoridation, according to the Journal of the Louisiana Dental
Association (Winter 2007). (3)
In October 2007, the National Kidney Foundation withdrew its position
paper on fluoridation to re-evaluate available literature. Yet, they
are listed under Louisiana’s “Healthy Smiles Coalition” as favoring
fluoridation. (4)
“Fluoridation proponents always pull out a dubious laundry list of
supporters – virtually none of which have revisited their position
since the groundbreaking NRC report was published,” says Connett..
“Despite 60 years of fluoridation, no US research has ever studied
fluoridation’s effect on many disorders such as arthritis, underactive
thyroid, children’s lower IQ and bone fractures, or Alzheimer’s
disease,” says Connett.
The NRC reports babies are fluoride-overdosed and risk dental
fluorosis (discolored teeth) from “optimal” fluoridation levels
(approximately 1 part per million). Consequently, both the American
Dental Association (5) and the Centers for Disease Control (6) advise
against mixing formula with fluoridated water.
“Fluoridated water is actually 250 times higher than the level in
mothers’ milk (0.004 ppm),” says Connett. “Parents who bottle feed
their babies using fluoridated tap water, will dose their babies with
250 times more fluoride than nature intended.”
Over 1,700 professionals urge Congress to stop water fluoridation and
conduct hearings, citing the new scientific evidence that fluoridation
is ineffective and has serious health risks. See statement:
http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html
Contact: Paul Connett, pa...@fluoridealert.org
http://www.FluorideAction.Net
SOURCE: Fluoride Action Network
References:
1) The Advocate, "House panel OKs fluoride bill," by Mark Ballard
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/politics/19343394.html?showAll=y&c=y
2) "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.php?record_id=11571
3) Journal of the Louisiana Dental Association (Winter 2007) See
page 16 http://www.ladental.org/cms/images/stories/Journals/LDA_Journal_Win07_WEB.pdf
4) Healthy Smiles Coalition of Louisiana
http://www.healthysmileslouisiana.org/coalition.html
5) American Dental Association "Infants, Formula and Fluoride"
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/infantsformula.asp
6) US Centers for Disease Control, "Background: Infant Formula and the
Risk for Enamel Fluorosis"
NYSCOF
hands of a Conference Committee after the Senate rejected the House's
amendments.
The Louisiana Senate yesterday (6/17) extensively debated whether
there was sufficient evidence to ban hand-held cell phones while
driving because there wasn't enough evidence that it causes accidents.
However, there is NO evidence that any Louisiana child or adult is
fluoride-deficient, yet the Senators didn't utter a peep about the
issue. I assume it's because they don't really understand it and don't
want to look foolish asking a question they don't already know the
answer to. Or maybe they don't care to hear the truth.
The truth is that since fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential
for healthy teeth, there is no fluoride-deficiency illness.
When fluoridation mandate bills are presented to legislators, I
believe all they hear is blah, blah, blah; but what they see is
dollars signs - representatives of organizations with loads of PAC
money, potential $peaking engagements, photo ops, etc.
So passing this bill without constituent knowledge helps the dentists
as well as the legislators.
The reality is that dentists need to be mandated to actually treat low-
income people or allow other groups to do so because Americans are
dying from untreated tooth decay.
However, there's no special interest group approaching our legislators
to require that.
Take action to stop fluoridation nation-wide http:/
congress.FluorideAction.Net