Fw: #724: Fluoridation: Time for a Second Look?

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: . RACHEL'S ENVIRONMENT & HEALTH NEWS #724 .

: . ---May 10, 2001--- .

: . HEADLINES: .

: . FLUORIDATION: TIME FOR A SECOND LOOK? .

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:

: FLUORIDATION: TIME FOR A SECOND LOOK?

:

: by , Ellen and Connett*

:

: In 1997 the union representing scientists, engineers and lawyers

: at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in Washington,

: D.C., voted to support a California citizen initiative to stop

: fluoridation of public drinking water. In 1999 the union's

: vice-president released a paper explaining the union's opposition

: to fluoridation.[1]

:

: Fluoridation is the practice of adding fluoride to the public

: water supply to reduce dental decay. U.S. fluoridation trials

: began in 1945 and by 1992 approximately 56% of the U.S. public

: received its water from fluoridated systems.[2]

:

: Typically, fluoride-containing (or -generating) compounds are

: added to water to bring the level up to 1 milligram of fluoride

: ion per liter (1 part per million). In 1986 EPA set a Maximum

: Contaminant Level (MCL) for fluoride in drinking water at 4

: ppm.[3] The MCL was based on only one adverse health effect:

: skeletal fluorosis, a crippling bone disease.

:

: Fluoridation of public water supplies has stirred passionate

: debate for over 50 years. Now new data is refining the debate. It

: appears that some of the early claims for fluoridation's benefits

: were inflated. In recent years tooth decay has declined in both

: fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities. In fact, the largest

: U.S. survey indicates that the benefit to fluoridated communities

: amounts to 0.6 fewer decayed tooth surfaces per child, which is

: less than one percent of the tooth surfaces in a child's

: mouth.[4]

:

: The public health community justified medicating whole

: communities via public drinking water using certain arguments

: that recent research has now shown to be false. For example, in

: 1945 scientists believed that fluoride had to be swallowed to be

: effective. However, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has

: recently acknowledged that fluoride's mechanism of action is

: primarily topical, not systemic.[5] This means that you don't

: need to swallow fluoride to reap its tiny benefits.

:

: A second early belief, now known to be false, is that fluoride is

: an essential nutrient. There is no evidence of any disease

: related to fluoride deficiency. Natural levels of fluoride in

: human milk (0.01 ppm) are approximately a hundred times less than

: baby formula reconstituted with fluoridated water.[6]

:

: A third early belief was that dental fluorosis (a defect of the

: tooth enamel caused by fluoride's interference with the growing

: tooth) would occur in only about 10% of the children drinking

: water fluoridated at 1 ppm and would occur only in its mildest

: form. Today fluorosis occurs on two or more teeth in 30% of

: children in areas where the water is fluoridated, and not all in

: its mildest form.[7]

:

: A fourth early belief was that 1 ppm fluoride in drinking water

: provided an ample margin of safety against toxic effects. Not

: only is there no safety margin for dental fluorosis but there is

: growing evidence that there may be no safety margin for changes

: to bone structure and impacts on the brain, thyroid, and other

: soft tissues, especially when it is coupled with nutrient

: deficiencies, particularly iodide.

:

: THE EVIDENCE

:

: 1) In 1998 the results of a long-term, low-dose rat study were

: published.[8] Two groups of rats were exposed to two different

: kinds of fluoride at 1 ppm in distilled water. A third group

: received only distilled water. Amyloid deposits (associated with

: Alzheimer's Disease and other forms of dementia) were elevated in

: the brains of both fluoridated groups compared to the control

: group. The authors speculate that fluoride enables aluminum to

: cross the blood-brain barrier.

:

: 2) Millions of people in India and China suffer a crippling bone

: disease called skeletal fluorosis, caused by moderate to high

: natural levels of fluoride (1.5 to 9 ppm) in their water.[9]

: Skeletal fluorosis has several stages of severity, with the less

: severe being chronic joint pain. " Because some of the clinical

: symptoms mimic arthritis, the first two clinical phases of

: skeletal fluorosis could be easily misdiagnosed. " [3] Arthritis is

: now at epidemic levels in the U.S. Fluoride's plausible

: contribution has been ignored, but needs to be taken seriously.

:

: 3) Since fluoridation began in 1945 our exposure to other sources

: of fluoride has increased substantially. These include processing

: food and beverages with fluoridated water; air pollution from

: fluoride emitting industries; pesticide residues; vitamins; and

: dental products. If 1 ppm in drinking water were the only source

: of fluoride, the average person would ingest 2 milligrams (mg) of

: fluoride each day, though some may get less because they use

: bottled water, or they drink less water than the average adult.

: In 1991, the federal Department of Health and Human Services

: (DHHS) estimated that the range of exposure in communities with

: approximately 1 ppm fluoride in the water was 1.58 to 6.6 mg per

: day.[10]

:

: 4) The dose of 1.58 to 6.6 mg per day overlaps the dose found to

: depress the functioning of the human thyroid gland. At 2.27 to

: 4.54 mg/day, fluoride has been found to " completely relieve " the

: symptoms of hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid).[11] With

: fluoride's known capacity to depress thyroid activity, it seems

: that there may be a link between current fluoride consumption and

: the prevalence of hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid). More than

: twenty million people in the U.S. receive treatment for thyroid

: problems and many others are thought to go undiagnosed.[12]

:

: 5) Fluoride is a hormone disrupter. It mimics the action of many

: water-soluble hormones by interacting with G proteins, which

: transmit hormonal messages across cell membranes.[13]

: Additionally, fluoride accumulates in the pineal gland and may

: reduce melatonin production.[14]

:

: 6) Fluoride (50-75 mg per day) given to osteoporosis patients to

: strengthen bones has actually increased their rate of hip

: fractures.[15,16] Of 18 studies conducted since 1990, 10 have

: found an association between water fluoridation and hip fractures

: in the elderly.[17] According to the Agency for Toxic Substances

: and Disease Registry (ATSDR): " If this effect is confirmed, it

: would mean that hip fracture in the elderly replaces dental

: fluorosis in children as the most sensitive endpoint of fluoride

: exposure. " [18] Hip fracture is not a minor problem: in the U.S.

: up to 50,000 people die each year of osteoporosis-related hip

: fractures.[19]

:

: 7) Some evidence suggests that fluoride causes bone cancer in

: male rats and perhaps in young men.[20, 21]

:

: 8) A recent report by the Greater Boston Physicians for Social

: Responsibility reviews studies showing that fluoride interferes

: with brain function in young animals and in children, reducing

: IQ.[22]

:

: Most European countries have rejected fluoridation. Recognizing

: that there are simple and effective alternatives, they have

: applied the precautionary principle. Their children's teeth have

: not suffered as a consequence. Parents willing to expose their

: children to fluoride can simply purchase fluoridated toothpaste

: (which contains 1000 to 1500 ppm fluoride -- read the warning

: label on the package).[23] The American policy of giving fluoride

: to children by medicating whole communities with a potent drug

: that may harm some people seems a dubious practice at best. At

: worst it violates the primary principle of medical ethics: First

: do no harm. Furthermore, it violates the ethical principle of

: informed consent.

:

: In May 2000 the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) was formed by a

: coalition of activists and scientists from 12 countries (see:

: http://www.fluoridealert.org). FAN's goal is to end fluoridation

: and minimize exposure to fluoride. FAN's founding members include

: the late Brower; Teddy Goldsmith; Colby; Gar ;

: Terri Swearingen; the union representing professional employees

: at EPA headquarters; and Dr. Hardy Limeback, Canada's leading

: dental authority on fluoridation who in 1999 apologized for

: having promoted fluoridation for 15 years.

:

: We urge our colleagues working on public health and environmental

: issues to become involved and take a second look at fluoridation.

:

: ===================

:

: * Connett is professor of chemistry at St. Lawrence

: University in Canton N.Y.; Ellen Connett is editor of WASTE NOT ,

: 82 Judson, Canton N.Y. 13617; Connett is FAN's webmaster

: <http://www.fluoridealert.org>

:

: [1] J. Hirzy, " Why the union representing U.S. EPA's

: professionals in Washington D.C. opposes fluoridation, " WASTE NOT

: #448 ( May 1, 1999), pgs. 1-4. And see http://-

: www.fluoridation.com/epa2.htm.

:

: [2] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center

: for Prevention Services, Division of Oral Health, " Water Supply

: Statistics " (Atlanta, Georgia: Centers for Disease Control and

: Prevention, 1993). Available at http://www.cdc.gov/nohss/-

: FSSupplyStats.htm.

:

: [3] Bette Hileman, " Fluoridation of water. Questions about health

: risks and benefits remain after more than 40 years, " CHEMICAL &

: ENGINEERING NEWS Vol. 66 (August 1, 1988), pgs. 26-42. Available

: at http://www.fluoridealert.org/hileman.htm.

:

: [4] J.A. Brunelle and J.P. , " Recent Trends in Dental

: Caries in U.S. Children and the Effect of Water Fluoridation, "

: JOURNAL OF DENTAL RESEARCH Vol. 69, Special Issue (February

: 1990), pgs. 723-727 and discussion pgs. 820-823.

:

: [5] Centers for Disease Control, " Achievements in Public Health,

: 1900-1999: Fluoridation of Drinking Water to Prevent Dental

: Caries, " MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT Vol. 48, No. 41

: (October 22, 1999), pgs. 933-940.

:

: [6] C.J. Spak and others, " Fluoride in Human Milk, " ACTA

: PAEDIATRICA SCANDINAVICA Vol. 72, No. 5 (September 1983), pgs.

: 699-701.

:

: [7] E. Heller and others, " Dental Caries and Dental

: Fluorosis at Varying Water Fluoride Concentrations, " JOURNAL OF

: PUBLIC HEALTH DENTISTRY Vol. 57, No. 3 (Summer 1997), pgs.

: 136-143.

:

: [8] A. Varner and others, " Chronic administration of

: aluminum-fluoride and sodium-fluoride to rats in drinking water:

: alterations in neuronal and cerebrovascular integrity, " BRAIN

: RESEARCH Vol. 784, No. 1-2 (February 1998), pgs. 284-298.

:

: [9] S.S. Jolly and others, " Human Fluoride Intoxication in

: Punjab, " Fluoride Vol, 4, No. 2 (1971), pgs. 64-79.

:

: [10] Ad Hoc Subcommitttee on Fluoride of the Committee to

: Coordinate Environmental Health and Related Programs, Public

: Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services. REVIEW

: OF FLUORIDE: BENEFITS AND RISKS, REPORT OF THE AD HOC COMMITTEE

: ON FLUORIDE OF THE COMMITTEE TO COORDINATE ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH

: AND RELATED PROGRAMS (February 1991), pg. 17.

:

: [11] Pierre-M. Galletti and Gustave Joyet, " Effect of fluorine on

: thyroidal iodine metabolism in hyperthyroidism, " JOURNAL OF

: CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY Vol. 18 (October 1958), pgs. 1102-1110.

:

: [12] Beth Ann Ditkoff and Lo Gerfo, THE THYROID GUIDE [iSBN

: 0060952601] (New York: Harper, 2000), cover notes.

:

: [13] Strunecka and J. Patocka, " Pharmacological and

: toxicological effects of aluminofluoride complexes. " FLUORIDE

: Vol. 32, No. 4 (November 1999), pgs. 230-242.

:

: [14] Anne Luke, THE EFFECT OF FLUORIDE ON THE PHYSIOLOGY

: OF THE PINEAL GLAND , Ph.D Thesis, University of Surrey, United

: Kingdom (1997). See also Luke, " Fluoride Deposition in

: the Aged Human Pineal Gland, " CARIES RESEARCH Vol. 35 (2001),

: pgs. 125-128.

:

: [15] L.R. Hedlund and J.C. Gallagher, " Increased incidence of hip

: fracture in osteoporotic women treated with sodium fluoride, "

: JOURNAL OF BONE MINERAL RESEARCH Vol. 4, No. 2 (April 1989), pgs.

: 223-225.

:

: [16] B.L. Riggs and others, " Effect of fluoride treatment on the

: fracture rates in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis, " NEW

: ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Vol. 322, No. 12 (March 22 1990),

: pgs. 802-809.

:

: [17] Connett and Connett, " The Emperor Has No

: Clothes: A Critique of the CDC's Promotion of Fluoridation, "

: WASTE NOT #468 (October 2000), pgs. 27-28. Available at http://-

: www.fluoridealert.org/cdc.htm.

:

: [18] Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry,

: TOXICOLOGICAL PROFILE FOR FLUORIDES, HYDROGEN FLUORIDE, AND

: FLUORINE (F) [ATSDR/TP-91/17]. (Atlanta, Ga.: U.S. Department of

: Health and Human Services, April 1993), pg. 57.

:

: [19] K. Phipps, " Fluoride and bone health, " JOURNAL OF PUBLIC

: HEALTH DENTISTRY Vol. 55, No. 1 (Winter 1995), pgs. 53-56.

:

: [20] National Toxicology Program, TOXICOLOGY AND CARCINOGENESIS

: (December 1990). This NTP study is summarized in reference 10,

: pgs. 71-73.

:

: [21] D. Cohn, A BRIEF REPORT ON THE ASSOCIATION OF DRINKING

: WATER FLUORIDATION AND THE INCIDENCE OF OSTEOSARCOMA AMONG YOUNG

: MALES. (Trenton, N.J.: New Jersey Department of Health, November

: 8, 1992).

:

: [22] Ted Schettler and others, IN HARM'S WAY: TOXIC THREATS TO

: CHILD DEVELOPMENT (Cambridge, Mass.: Greater Boston Physicians

: for Social Responsibility [GBPSR] , May 2000). Available at

: http://www.igc.org/psr/ or from GBPSR in Cambridge, Mass.;

: telephone (617) 497-7440.

:

: [23] Connett and Ellen Connett, " The Fluoridation of

: Drinking Water: a house of cards waiting to fall. Part 1: The

: Science, " WASTE NOT #373 (November 1996). See Table 2 pgs. 6-7.

:

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