3. fluoride can impair neuronal function, impairs BBB, exacerbates aluminum toxicity; mitochondrial effects

[Guest guest]

As forwarded to me:

" Fluoride is rife with politics. PubMed refuses to index the journal FLUORIDE

which has been published for the last 30 years... Did you know that fluoride is

a G-protein? -- Ellen Connett. This selection is taken from

http://www.fluoridealert.org/abstracts.htm#Brain: "

[Comment: while enjoying these abstracts, keep in mind that an increasing body

of evidence suggests that many and probably most autism-spectrum children (ASC)

have intestinal pathology, suboptimal internal-nutritional status, impaired

immunity, and impaired detoxification. Studies about fluoride's seeming lack of

effects in healthy adults are not relevant. Studies about high-dose fluoride in

water are relevant because they indicate a direction-of-effect that might be

manifested in fetuses, infants, and toddlers with impaired detoxification, thus

with excessive fluoride accumulation. Here's more info. The abstracts speak for

themselves. -- B ]

1. Epidemiology 2000 July 11(4): S153 (back to top)

Influence of Fluoride Exposure on Reaction Time and Visuospatial Organization in

Children

Jaqueline Calderon, Machado Blenda, Navarro Marielena, Carrizales , Ortiz

Deogracias, -Barriga F.

University of North Caroline. Email:

<Jaqueline.Calderon@...>

Fluoride exposure is an important public health problem in several Mexican

states. In the city of San Potosi, Mexico, above 90% of the children have

some

degree of dental fluorosis. The main source of exposure to fluoride is tap

water. The objective of the study was to evaluate the influence of chronic

exposure to

fluoride on neuropsychological development in children. Sixty-one children aged

6 to 8 years were included. Fluoride concentration in tap water ranged from 1.2

to 3 mg/L. Fluoride exposure was measured in urine samples by electrothermal ion

selective method. Blood lead (PbB) was measured as indicator of lead exposure by

atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Height for age index (HAI) was calculated

as indicator of past nutritional status. Three tests were used

to evaluate the neuropsychological development: (1) Wechsler Intelligence Scale

for Children Revisited version for Mexico (WISC-RM), (2) Rey Osterreith-Complex

Figure test and (3) Continuos Performance Test (CPT). Mean value of fluoride in

urine was 4.3 mgF/g creatinine (1.6-10.8). Mean

PhB value was 6.2 ug/dl (2.0-15.6). After controlling by significant

confounders, urinary fluoride correlated positively with reaction time and

inversely with the

scores in visuospatial organization. IQ scores were not influenced by fluoride

exposure. An increase in reaction time could affect the attention process, also

the low scores in visuospatial organization could be affecting the reading and

writing abilities in these children.

2. Fluoride 2000 May 33(2): 74-78. (back to top)

Effect of High-Fluoride Water on Intelligence in Children

Lu Y, Sun ZR, Wu LN, Wang X, Lu W, Liu SS

Department of Environmental Health, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China.

<yan_lv@...> OR <yan_lu@...>

The Intelligence Quotient (IQ) was measured in 118 children, aged 10-12 years,

who were life-long residents in two villages of similar population size and

social,

educational and economic background but differing in the level of fluoride in

drinking water. The children in the high-fluoride area (drinking water fluoride

3.15 +

0.61 mg/L [ppm]) (mean + S.D.) had higher urinary fluoride levels (4.99 + 2.57

mg/L) than the children in the low-fluoride area (drinking water fluoride 0.37 +

0.04 mg/L) (urinary fluoride 1.43 + 0.64 mg/L). The IQ of the 60 children in the

high-fluoride area was significantly lower, mean 92.27 + 20.45, than that of the

58 children in the low-fluoride area, mean 103.05 + 13.86. More children in the

high-fluoride area, 21.6%, were in the retardation (<70) or borderline (70-79)

categories of IQ than children in the low fluoride area, 3.4%. An inverse

relationship was also present between IQ and the urinary fluoride level.

Exposure of

children to high levels of fluoride may therefore carry the risk of impaired

development of intelligence.

3. Wei Sheng Yan Jiu 1999 Jul;28(4):210-2

[Effect of fluoride exposure on synaptic structure of brain areas related to

learning-memory in mice] [Article in Chinese]

Zhang Z, Xu X, Shen X, Xu X.

Department of Biology, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua 321004, China.

The learning-memory behavior was tested in mice on a Y-maze after drinking

different concentration of sodium fluoride. The impairment on the structure of

Gray 1 synaptic interface in the CA3 area of mice hippocampus were

quantitatively analyzed by electron microscopy and computer image processing

appliance. The main results are as follows: the learning ability of mice

drinking high concentration of fluoride presented remarkable deterioration, the

thickness of post-synaptic density (PSD) was decreased, and the width of

synaptic cleft was remarkably increased. The results suggested that the

impairment on the learning capability induced by fluorosis may be closely

related with the pathological changes of synaptic structure in the brain of

mice.

4. Cesk Fysiol 1999 Feb;48(1):9-15

[Reassessment of the role of aluminum in the development of Alzheimer's

disease]. [Article in Czech]

Strunecka A, Patocka J

Katedra fyziologie a vyvojove biologie Prirodovedecke fakulty Univerzity

Karlovy, Praha.

[ NOTE: Connett did a video interview with Strunecka last summer. She is

absolutely terrific.]

The pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is related to the alterations in

neurotransmission, beta-amyloid production, plaque formation and cytoskeletal

abnormalities. The question of aluminium relevance to the etiology of AD cannot

yet be adequately answered. Aluminium is currently regarded as the putative risk

factor for the disease. Our paper shows that some of pathologic changes are not

raised by aluminium alone, but by the aluminofluoride complexes. These

complexes may act as the initial signal stimulating impairment of homeostasis,

degeneration and death of the cells. By influencing energy metabolism these

complexes can accelerate the aging and impair the functions of the nervous

system. In respect to the etiology of AD, the long term action of

aluminofluoride

complexes may represent a serious and powerful risk factor for the development

of AD.

5. Arch Physiol Biochem 1999 Feb;107(1):15-21

Fluoride enhances the effect of aluminium chloride on interconnections between

aggregates of hippocampal neurons.

van der Voet GB, Schijns O, de Wolff FA.

Toxicology Laboratory Leiden University Medical Center Leiden, The Netherlands.

The role of fluoride in aluminium neurotoxicity was studied using an in vitro

system of cultured hippocampal neurons from foetal rats. Sodium fluoride (50

microM) and aluminium chloride (12.5 microM) were administered alone or in a

specific combination (50 + 12.5 microM) in a 14-day culture in a chemically

defined medium before staining of neurofilaments. Neuronal aggregates

interconnected by neuritic fibers were detected light microscopically in control

cultures. The aggregates and the fibers stained positive for neurofilament

proteins. In cultures treated with aluminium chloride the development of the

interconnecting fibers was affected, resulting in a fusion pattern of the

aggregates. This phenomenon was enhanced when sodium fluoride was given together

with aluminum chloride. It was concluded that aluminium interferes with the

metabolism of the neuronal cytoskeleton and that this interference is

potentiated by fluoride.

6. Brain Res 1998 Feb 16;784(1-2):284-98 (back to top)

Chronic administration of aluminum-fluoride or sodium-fluoride to rats in

drinking water: alterations in neuronal and cerebrovascular integrity.

Varner JA, Jensen KF, Horvath W, Isaacson RL

Psychology Department, Binghamton University, Binghamton, NY, USA.

[NOTE: did a video interview with Jensen. This paper was significant

because the authors speculate that fluoride facilitates aluminum to cross

the blood brain barrier. One of the authors is with NIEHS. This study prompted

NTP to undertake further study.]

This study describes alterations in the nervous system resulting from chronic

administration of the fluoroaluminum complex (AlF3) or equivalent levels of

fluoride (F) in the form of sodium-fluoride (NaF). Twenty seven adult male

Long- rats were administered one of three treatments for 52 weeks: the

control group was administered double distilled deionized drinking water (ddw).

The aluminum-treated group received ddw with 0.5 ppm AlF3 and the NaF group

received ddw with 2.1 ppm NaF containing the equivalent amount of F as in the

AlF3 ddw. Tissue aluminum (Al) levels of brain, liver and kidney were assessed

with the Direct Current Plasma (DCP) technique and its distribution assessed

with Morin histochemistry. Histological sections of brain were stained with

hematoxylin & eosin (H & E), Cresyl violet, Bielschowsky silver stain, or

immunohistochemically for beta-amyloid, amyloid A, and IgM. No differences were

found between the body weights of rats in the different treatment groups

although more rats died in the AlF3 group than in the control group. The Al

levels in samples of brain and kidney were higher in both the AlF3 and NaF

groups relative to controls. The effects of the two treatments on

cerebrovascular and neuronal integrity were qualitatively and quantitatively

different. These alterations were greater in animals in the AlF3 group than in

the NaF group and greater in the NaF group than in controls. Copyright 1998

Elsevier Science B.V.

7. Neurotoxicol Teratol 1998 Sep;20(5):537-542 (back to top)

Influence of chronic fluorosis on membrane lipids in rat brain.

Guan ZZ, Wang YN, Xiao KQ, Dai DY, Chen YH, Liu JL, Sindelar P, Dallner G.

Department of Pathology, Guiyang Medical College, Guizhou, China.

jialiul@...

Brain membrane lipid in rats were analyzed after being fed either 30 or 100 ppm

fluoride for 3, 5, and 7 months. The protein content of brain with fluorosis

decreased, whereas the DNA content remained stable during the entire period of

investigation. After 7 months of fluoride treatment, the total brain

phospholipid

content decreased by 10% and 20% in the 30 and 100 ppm fluoride groups,

respectively. The main species of phospholipid influenced by fluorosis were

phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, and phosphatidylserine. The fatty

acid and aldehyde compositions of individual phospholipid classes were

unchanged. No modifications could be detected in the amounts of cholesterol and

dolichol. After 3 months of fluoride treatment, ubiquinone contents in brain

were lower; however, at 7 months they were obviously increased in both groups of

fluoride treatment. The results demonstrate that the contents of phospholipid

and ubiquinone are modified in brains affected by chronic fluorosis and these

changes of membrane lipids could be involved in the pathogenesis of this

disease.

8. Fluoride 1996 Nov 29(4): 190-192 (back to top)

Effect of a High Fluoride Water Supply on Children's Intelligence

Zhao LB, Liang GH, Zhang DN, Wu XR

Lu-Liang Public Health Bureau, Shanxi 033000, China.

In Shanxi Province, China, children living in the endemic fluoride village of

Sima (water supply F = 4.12 mg/L) located near Xiaoyi City had average IQ

(97.69)

significantly lower (p < 0.02) than children living to the north in the

nonendemic village of Xinghua (F = 0.91 mg/L; average IQ = 105.21). These

differences were not associated with gender, but the IQ scores were directly

related to educational level of the parents.

9. Neurotoxicol Teratol 1995 Mar-Apr;17(2):169-77 (back to top)

Neurotoxicity of sodium fluoride in rats.

Mullenix PJ, Denbesten PK, Schunior A, Kernan WJ

Toxicology Department, Forsyth Research Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.

[NOTE: did a video interview with Mullenix. She too is terrific. She

basically got fired from her job as Head of toxicology at Forsyth because she

refused not to have this paper published. This was actually a good thing as now

she spends her time as an expert witness in fluorine poisoning suits. She's also

working with the Mohawks at Akwesasne who live under the stacks of Alcoa and

Reynolds (big F polluters). She lives outside Boston and may be a useful

contact...]

Fluoride (F) is known to affect mineralizing tissues, but effects upon the

developing brain have not been previously considered. This study in

Sprague-Dawley rats

compares behavior, body weight, plasma and brain F levels after sodium fluoride

(NaF) exposures during late gestation, at weaning or in adults. For prenatal

exposures, dams received injections (SC) of 0.13 mg/kg NaF or saline on

gestational days 14-18 or 17-19. Weanlings received drinking water containing 0,

75,

100, or 125 ppm F for 6 or 20 weeks, and 3 month-old adults received water

containing 100 ppm F for 6 weeks. Behavior was tested in a computer pattern

recognition system that classified acts in a novel environment and quantified

act initiations, total times and time structures. Fluoride exposures caused sex-

and

dose-specific behavioral deficits with a common pattern. Males were most

sensitive to prenatal day 17-19 exposure, whereas females were more sensitive to

weanling and adult exposures. After fluoride ingestion, the severity of the

effect on behavior increased directly with plasma F levels and F concentrations

in specific brain regions. Such association is important considering that plasma

levels in this rat model (0.059 to 0.640 ppm F) are similar to those reported in

humans exposed to high levels of fluoride.

10. Fluoride 1995 28(4): 189-192 (back to top)

Effect of Fluoride Exposure on Intelligence in Children

X S Li, JL Zhi, Gao RO

Guizhou Provincial Sanitary and Anti-Epidemic Station. Guiyang City. 550001.

China

The intelligence was measured of 907 children aged 8-13 years living in areas

which differed in the amount of fluoride present in the environment. The

Intelligence

Quotient (IQ) of children living in areas with a medium or severe prevalence of

fluorosis was lower than that of children living in areas with only slight

fluorosis or no fluorosis. The development of intelligence appeared to be

adveresely affected by fluoride in the areas with a medium or severe prevalence

of fluorosis. A high

fluoride intake was associated with a lower intelligence. No correlation was

found between age and intelligence in the areas with a medium and severe

prevalence

of fluorosis. The effect of exposure to a high level of fluoride on intelligence

may occur at an early stage of development of the embryo and infant when the

differentation of brain nerve cells is occurring and development is most rapid.

11. Int Clin Psychopharmacol 1994 Summer;9(2):79-82 (back to top)

Psychopharmacology of fluoride: a review.

Spittle B.

Department of Psychological Medicine, University of Otago Medical School,

Dunedin, New Zealand.

Although the blood-brain barrier is relatively impermeable to fluoride, it does

not pose an absolute barrier and fluoride has the ability to enter the brain.

The

literature was examined to assess the quality of the evidence for cerebral

impairment occurring due to exposure to fluoride from therapeutic or

environmental

sources. Several surveys of persons chronically exposed to industrial fluoride

pollution reported symptoms related to impaired central nervous system

functioning

with impaired cognition and memory. Examination of individual case reports

showed the evidence for aetiological relationships between symptoms and fluoride

exposure to be of variable quality. The evidence was seen as being suggestive of

a relationship rather than being definitive. The difficulties with concentration

and

memory described in relation to exposure to fluoride did not occur in isolation

but were accompanied by other symptoms of which general malaise and fatigue were

central. Possible mechanisms whereby fluoride could affect brain function

include influencing calcium currents, altering enzyme configuration by forming

strong hydrogen bonds with amide groups, inhibiting cortical adenylyl cyclase

activity and increasing phosphoinositide hydrolysis.

12. Hua Hsi I Ko Ta Hsueh Hsueh Pao 1994 Jun;25(2):188-91

[Effect of excessive fluoride intake on mental work capacity of children and a

preliminary study of its mechanism]. [Article in Chinese]

Li Y, Li X, Wei S

We made an investigation in 157 children, aged 12-13, born and grew up in a coal

burning pattern endemic fluorosis area and an experiment on excessive fluoride

intake in rat. The results showed: (1) Excessive fluoride intake since early

childhood would reduce mental work capacity (MWC) and hair zinc content: (2) The

effect on zinc metabolism was a mechanism of influence on MWC by excessive

fluoride intake; (3) Excessive fluoride intake decreased 5-hydroxy indole acetic

acid and increased norepinephrine in rat brain; whether this is also a mechanism

of the influence on MWC awaits confirmation.

13. Chung-hua Ping Li Hsueh Tsa Chih 1992 Aug;21(4):218-20 (back to top)

[The effect of fluorine on the developing human brain].

Du L

Department of Pathology, Guiyang Medical College.

Fifteen therapeutically aborted fetuses at the 5th-8th gestation month from the

endemic fluorosis area were compared with those from the non-endemic area.

Stereological study of the brains showed that the numerical density of volume of

the neurons and the undifferentiated neuroblasts as well as the

nucleus-cytoplasm

ratio of the neurons were increased. The mean volume of the neurons was reduced.

The numerical density of volume, the volume density and the surface density of

the mitochondria were significantly reduced. The results showed that chronic

fluorosis in the course of intrauterine fetal life may produce certain harmful

effects on the developing brain of the fetus.

14. Iodine Deficiency Disorder Newsletter 1991 August Vol. 7 No. 3 (back to top)

The Relationship of a Low-Iodine and High-Fluoride Environment to Subclinical

Cretinism in Xinjiang

Lin Fa-Fu, Aihaiti, Zhao Hong-Xin, Lin Jin, Jiang Ji-Yong, Maimaiti, and Aiken.

SUMMARY: We studied a total of 769 schoolchildren of 7-14 years in three areas,

characterized by intakes of (A) low iodine, high fluoride; ( low iodine,

normal fluoride; and © iodine supplemented, normal fluoride. Results for the

following parameters for areas A, B, and C, respectively were: (a) average IQ:

71,

77, 96; ( average auditory threshold (in dB): 24, 20, 16; © bone age

retardation (%): 28, 13, 4; (d) thyroid 131I uptake (%): 60, 50, 24; and (e)

serum TSH

(mU/ml): 21, 11, 6. Statistically significant differences existed between these

areas, suggesting that a low iodine intake coupled with high fluoride intake

exacerbates the central nervous lesions and the somatic developmental

disturbance of iodine deficiency. The detection rate of subclinical endemic

cretinism in children with mental retardation was 69%, and the total attack rate

of subclinical endemic cretinism 9%.

15. Am J Public Health 1998 Dec;88(12):1774-80 (back to top)

Health effects associated with sulfuryl fluoride and methyl bromide exposure

among structural fumigation workers.

Calvert GM, Mueller CA, Fajen JM, Chrislip DW, Russo J, Briggle T, Fleming LE,

Suruda AJ, Steenland K.

Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

<jac6@...>

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed the health effects associated with occupational

exposure to methyl bromide and sulfuryl fluoride among structural fumigation

workers. METHODS: A cross-sectional study of 123 structural fumigation workers

and 120 referents in south Florida was conducted. Nerve conduction,

vibration, neurobehavioral, visual, olfactory, and renal function testing was

included. RESULTS: The median lifetime duration of methyl bromide and sulfuryl

fluoride exposure among workers was 1.20 years and 2.85 years, respectively.

Sulfuryl fluoride exposure over the year preceding examination was associated

with significantly reduced performance on the Pattern Memory Test and on

olfactory testing. In addition, fumigation workers had significantly reduced

performance on the Santa Ana Dexterity Test of the dominant hand and a

nonsignificantly higher prevalence of carpal tunnel syndrome than did the

referents. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational sulfuryl fluoride exposures may be

associated with subclinical effects on the central nervous system, including

effects on olfactory and some cognitive functions. However, no widespread

pattern of cognitive deficits was observed. The peripheral nerve effects were

likely caused by ergonomic stresses experienced by the fumigation workers.

For more info, retain the quote-marks and enter the line

" waste not " " Ellen Connett "

into http://www.google.com

Results include:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/about-fan.htm

http://www.fluoridealert.org/index.htm

http://www.ejnet.org/rachel/rhwn075.htm

http://csf.colorado.edu/forums/pfvs/apr97/0021.html

>Terri Swearingen: " ...I am not a scientist or a Ph.D. I am a nurse and a

housewife, but my most important credential is that I am a mother. In 1982, I

was pregnant with our one and only child. That's when I first learned of plans

to build one of the world's largest toxic waste incinerators in my community... "

ps: This post may be forwarded hither & yon. Elsewhere too.