National Academy of Sciences: Fluoridation Can Be Unhealthy

Oregon newspaper helps expose the risks

by Robert Carton, PhD

Fluoride jeopardizes health--even at low levels deliberately added to public water supplies--according to a recent National Academy of Sciences' (NAS) National Research Council (NRC) report. Fluoride poses risks to diabetics, kidney patients, frequent water drinkers, and others. It can damage thyroid glands as well as children's teeth. Two panel members advise avoiding fluoridated water, according to an Oregon daily newspaper.

The Portland Tribune on March 26 reported, "NAS panel member Kathy Thiessen, a former senior 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." ("Fluoridation foes get validation" www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=34527)

"NAS panel member Robert Isaacson, 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...,'" reported the Tribune.

cartoon by John Jonik

The 12-member NRC fluoride committee unanimously decided that fluoride's 4 milligrams per liter (4 mg/L) maximum-contaminant-level must be lowered.

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). 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, according to chemistry professor, Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network.

Fluoride is also in food, beverages, pharmaceuticals, dental products, pesticide residues, cigarette smoke, and air emissions.

About two-thirds of U.S. water suppliers deliberately add fluoride chemicals (mostly industrial waste silicofluorides) to reach 0.07 to 1.2 mg/L, so-called optimal, in a failed effort to prevent tooth decay. But, "fluoride is a water contaminant over 1.3 mg/L," the NRC reports.

The report is actually misleading because it suggests that the problem has to be studied to death before decisions can be made. 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. Furthermore, why wasn't there a minority report from the NAS panel?

Eleven unions representing over 7,000 EPA scientists, engineers, lawyers and others are asking for a moratorium on fluoridation.

Please insist that your legislators stop unnecessary water fluoridation.

Robert Carton, PhD is a retired EPA scientist. He can be contacted at bcarton@verizon.net. For more info on fluoridation, see www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof, and www.FluorideAction.net.

No milligrams are good milligrams

Fluoride has detrimental effects on the thyroid gland of healthy males at 3.5 mg/day. With iodine deficiency, the effect level drops to 0.7 mg/day for an average male, according to the report. Furthermore, studies linking fluoride to cancer and lowered IQ are plausible, reports the NRC.

Now, the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) of any substance in the water supply is the level by which no one is harmed. So based on the science reported by the NRC, the MCLG for fluoride should be zero, which is very easily attainable for most water suppliers: all they need to do is just turn off the added fluoride with a twist of a spigot or a push of a button.

According to the NRC report:

1) Babies under one year consume over their adequate intake from the water supply alone at the so-called "optimal" water concentrations (0.7 -1.2 mg/L).

2) Some athletes, workers and/or military personnel already consume up to 10 milligrams of fluoride per day from typical fluoridated water alone.

3) "...severe renal insufficiency appears to increase bone fluoride concentrations, perhaps as much as twofold."

4) "The elderly are at increased risk of high bone fluoride concentrations due to accumulation over time...."

5) "There are medical conditions that can make people more susceptible to the effects of fluoride."

6) "...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."

7) "...all children through 12 who take fluoride supplements (assuming low water fluoride) will reach or exceed [optimal]."

Robert Carton, PhD