"...fluoride (that is added to municipal water) is a hazardous waste product...for which there is substantial evidence of adverse health effects and, contrary to public perception, virtually no evidence of significant benefits," says Dr. William Hirzy, Vice President, Chapter 280 of the National Treasury Employees Union, EPA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

At least 22% of all American children now have dental fluorosis as a result of ingesting too much fluoride, according to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC). That rate may be 69% in children from high socioeconomic-status families and those who live in fluoridated communities, according to a July 1998 report from The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and corroborated in several reports published since 1995 in the Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA-see below). Fluorosis is the discoloration and, in advanced cases, the pitting of teeth. Bleaching is not effective.

The more serious health concern is that dental fluorosis is not the only harmful health effect that results from overexposure to fluoride. Fluoride has been linked in government and scientific reports to a wide range of harmful health effects, including: bone and tooth decay (including dental and skeletal fluorosis, bone pathology, arthritis, and osteoporosis) Alzheimer's, memory loss and other neurological impairment, kidney damage, cancer, genetic damage, and gastrointestinal problems. In addition, fluoride has been found to leach lead from old water pipes and soldering material, which has resulted in increased lead levels in people.

Americans, even in unfluoridated communities, are suffering serious harmful health effects from overexposure to fluoride due to its widespread and uncontrolled use. Fluoride can be found in any food or beverage made with fluoridated municipal water. Less than 2% of Western Europe drink fluoridated water compared to over 60% of the United States population.

Federal and state public health agencies and large dental and medical organizations, such as the American Dental Association, continue to promote fluoride despite growing evidence that it is harmful to public health and the environment. This is also despite EPA’s own scientists, whose union, Chapter 280 of the National Treasury Employees Union, has taken a strong stand against fluoride.

Fluoride is not an essential nutrient. It has never received "FDA Approval" (U.S. Food and Drug Administration). It is listed as an "unapproved new drug" by the FDA, and as a "contaminant" by the EPA. Although calcium fluoride can occur naturally, the type of fluoride (sodium) added to municipal water is a hazardous waste product of the aluminum industry, phosphate fertilizer industry, and other industries.

There is no margin of safety for fluoride exposure. In the 1940’s, when fluoridation began, the "optimal" level of exposure for dental benefit was determined to be 1 milligram/day for an adult male. Even at that level, 10% of the population were expected to contract dental fluorosis. It was estimated that adult males drank 1 liter of water per day. At that time, other sources of fluoride were scarce.

1986: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) set new "maximum contaminant levels (MCLs)" for fluoride in water. Above 2 mg/liter "children are likely to develop objectionable dental fluorosis" and parents must be officially notified. Above 4 mg/liter, individuals are at risk of developing "crippling skeletal fluorosis." It is against federal law to fluoridate water above 4 mg/liter.

1991: The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS), in their Review of Fluoride Benefits and Risks, published an analysis & table of fluoride exposure levels (for a 110-pound adult) from food, beverages, toothpaste, and mouthwash. Note: The HHS data indicates that HHS was aware in 1991 that the public was already overexposed to fluoride. The table below is an analysis of the HHS data table.
Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water Total Fluoride Intake % Over 1 mg "Optimal" Dosage
Unfluoridated Communities < 0.3 mg/L 0.88 - 2.20 mg/day as much as 120 %
"Optimally" Fluoridated 0.7-1.2 mg/L 1.58 - 6.60 mg/day as much as 560 %
Fluoridated communities > 2.0 mg/L 2.10 - 7.05 mg/day possible > 605 %

1993: The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) stated in its Toxicological Profile on Fluoride, "Existing data indicate that subsets of the population may be unusually susceptible to the toxic effects of fluoride and its compounds. These populations include the elderly, people with deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, and/or vitamin C, and people with cardiovascular and kidney problems... Postmenopausal women and elderly men in fluoridated communities may also be at increased risk of fractures."

1994: The American Dental Association's (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs approved a new Fluoride Supplementation Dosage Schedule with the following cautions, "All sources of fluoride must be evaluated with a thorough fluoride history.... Patient exposure to multiple sources can make proper prescribing complex." The ADA does not point out in their recommendations that multiple sources of fluoride include processed foods and beverages, which also makes it impossible to determine fluoride exposure or control it.

1995-2000: The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA’s Dec. 1995, July 1996, July 1997, March 1999, June 2000) has published a series of studies reporting on pervasive overexposure to fluoride due to "the widespread use of fluoridated water, fluoride dentifrice, dietary fluoride supplements and other forms of fluoride...{There is} an increased prevalence of dental fluorosis, ranging from about 15% to 65% in fluoridated areas and 5% to 40% in non-fluoridated areas in North America." In February of 1997, The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), representing 35,000 dentists, warned parents to limit their children’s intake of juices due to fluoride content.

RECOMMENDATION: The FDA should be required to put fluoride through the "controlled studies" necessary for standard "FDA Approval." If fluoride gains FDA approval, then it should be treated as a prescribed medication in order to prevent patient over-exposure.

NOTE: Reports and studies sometimes use different measurements for, essentially, the same value. For example: Both milligrams per liter (mg/l) or micrograms per gram (ug/g) = parts per million (ppm).

SEE Lynn's other articles on fluoride:

http://www.thelandesreport.com/Alzheim....try.htm

http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/ADA,Fluoride,&Liability.htm