Source: http://www.channel3000.com/news/18963455/detail.html
Non-Binding Referendum Set For April
POYNETTE, Wisconsin. — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called water fluoridation one of the 10 greatest public health initiatives of the 20th century, but some in a small Columbia County community said it’s all a farce.
The practice of water fluoridation first started in the U.S. in 1945. One year later, Wisconsin communities started adding fluoride to municipal water. Dental professionals argue that fluoride is especially important for children for their developing teeth. And, in general, experts say that fluoridated water drastically reduces cavities and tooth decay.
But a number of people in the village of Poynette said they believe fluoride is a poison, and they are working to keep it out of the water supply. It’s a debate that’s dividing the community.
Poynette has been without fluoride in its drinking water since July. At first, it was a cost savings issue, as the village needed to purchase new, updated measurement systems. But it has since turned into a health debate.
Poynette mom Tracie Gavinski said she worries about the health of her 19-month-old twins in large part because of what’s not in their drinking water.
“I was very upset,” Gavinski said. “My daughters are so young and this is a very crucial time for their tooth development. And fluoride is definitely important for them.”
Gavinski, a dental hygienist at the Children’s Dental Care Center in Fitchburg, said she wants fluoride put back in Poynette’s water. Many others agree, and in the community of 2,500, there is now a strong movement to bring the fluoride back, WISC-TV reported.
But there are some strong feelings on the other side as well.
Village board member Kevin Marquardt so strongly opposes fluoride that he pushed to use the word “poison” on the upcoming referendum ballot. The board voted that down.
“I believe it very much so is a poison,” Marquardt said. “I mean, it’s a by product of toxic waste, is all it is. It’s a way to get rid of toxic waste.”
Marquardt, and village resident Amy Lawler, said in their research — mostly studies found online — they’ve concluded that fluoride is far worse than it is good.
“It is proven effective when used topically,” Lawler said. “There is nothing proven systemically. Why are we swallowing this chemical?”
Studies provided to WISC-TV by Lawler and Marquardt indicate fluoride causes adverse side effects — like skeletal fluorosis, fertility issues and lower IQs — among other side effects.
“This chemical that we use and call fluoride is not,” Lawler said. “It’s a hazardous waste product. It’s a by-product from the phosphate fertilizer industry. It’s not good.”
How Fluoridation Works
The chemical used is called hydrofluorosilicic acid — or H2SiF6. It’s hydrogen, silicon and fluorine — and it’s true that it’s a chemical, created as a result of producing phosphate fertilizer, WISC-TV reported.
That said, it’s the most widely used chemical to fluoridate municipal water. Experts say that once the hydrofluorosilicic acid is added to water — much like chlorine — it is diluted. The chemical compound then dissociates into the hydrogen and fluoride ions, resulting in fluoridated water.
“The scientific evidence has clearly shown that it is safe and effective — and that there are no adverse health affects,” said Dr. Warren LeMay, Wisconsin’s chief dental officer.
LeMay said he’s heard the fluoride debate before and hears what he calls “false claims” about fluoride almost weekly. LeMay said he questions where many are doing their research.
“I think a lot of information I’ve seen has been coming off the Internet, and I think you really need to look at the credibility of those sources,” LeMay said. “Where is it coming from? Is it evidence-based?”
The studies provided to WISC-TV are mostly based on books and lab research overseas that was conducted on animals that were given a large amount of fluoride. The studies are compiled by the Web site www.fluorideresearch.org. It’s a New Zealand-based Web site, run by Dr. Bruce Spittle — an advocate pushing to stop water fluoridation.
But LeMay points to groups like Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health and the American Dental Association — all of which say fluoride is safe.
“Studies have shown that if you spend a dollar for community water fluoridation, you save $38 in treatment costs,” LeMay said. “I mean, that’s pretty amazing for just a small investment.”
In Poynette, the cost is roughly $7 per household, per year, for fluoridated water. But those who oppose it said it’s not a cost issue.
“To me, I can’t believe this information is out there and people are choosing to ignore it,” Lawler said.
Gavinski said that, in the meantime, she not only worries about her kids, but others who might not understand how important fluoride is.
“I can go and buy the fluoridated water, (but) not every household is fortunate enough to be able to pay for water ,” Gavinski said.
Water fluoridation is mandated in Wisconsin’s bordering states — but it is not required in Wisconsin. However, 90 percent of people on central water supplies get fluoridated water.
Why Fluoride?
Fluoride can be found naturally in ground water but the amount in water varies. Most dentists recommend fluoride supplements for those residents with well water, especially for young children.
Most dental experts said the topical fluoride treatments people get from a dentist aren’t enough. In fact, that’s why fluoridated water was started 64 years ago. Dentists said actually swallowing fluoride makes a big difference, especially for young children with developing teeth.
“Ingesting a small amount of fluoride, to get in, to make that bond, prevents decay in the future,” said Dr. Eric deTuits, from the Children’s Dental Care Center. “And that’s what we’re looking at in the systemic, or public water, kind of situation.”
The DNR strictly monitors the levels of fluoride put into drinking water. The acceptable level in Wisconsin is 1.1 parts per million. And that’s the amount that was in Poynette’s drinking water, and it could quite possibly be back in the water.
Next month, voters will voice their opinion in a referendum.
The referendum is non-binding — meaning no matter what the outcome, the village board has the final say.
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AirAndAqua.com Editors Note: Here are a few links on fluoridated water, what do you think?
Dangers of Fluoride in Toothpaste and water: http://www.ghchealth.com/where-the-yellow-went.html
Toxic Effects of Fluoride: http://www.wholywater.com/fluoride.html
Here at AirAndAqua.com, we feel that fluoride is needed in the human body about as much as mercury is. That is a sarcastic of way of saying that no matter the amount, the substance is toxic and we feel there is absolutely no reason that it should enter the human body! Look at the back of your toothpaste box, it has a clear warning that if you swallow even a small amount of the fluoridated toothpaste to seek medical help immediately! That should be the first red flag! We will be looking into fluoride free toothpaste to carry in our products section of the main site. Subscribe to our newsletter and be informed!
Fluoridation Ineffective & Harmful – Opposition: Scientific, Respectable and Growing
New York — March 2009 — Over 2,190 professionals urge the US Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional hearings are conducted, citing scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and has serious health risks. See statement: http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html.
Also, eleven Environmental Protection Agency employee unions representing over 7000 environmental and public health professionals called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country, and have asked EPA management to recognize fluoride as posing a serious risk of causing cancer in people. (1a)
Last election day, 53 US cities rejected fluoridation joining a growing list of communities saying “No,” to fluoridation. (1)
Since the professionals’ statement was first issued (Aug 2007), the following occurred:
– The Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, Canada’s leading voice on environmental health issues, released a statement opposing fluoridation. (2)
– The National Kidney Foundation dropped its fluoridation support replacing it with this caution: “Individuals with CKD [Chronic Kidney Disease] should be notified of the potential risk of fluoride exposure.” (3)
– Researchers reporting in the Oct 6 2007 British Medical Journal indicate that fluoridation never was proven safe or effective and may be unethical. (4)
– “A qualitative review of …studies found a consistent and strong association between the exposure to fluoride and low IQ,” concluded Tang el al., in “Fluoride and Children’s Intelligence: A Meta-analysis” in Biological Trace Element Research (5)
– Scientific American editors wrote in January 2008, “Some recent studies suggest that over-consumption of fluoride can raise the risks of disorders affecting teeth, bones, the brain and the thyroid gland”
– Dr. A. K. Susheela, a leading fluoride expert, explains in a video why US physicians overlook fluoride as a possible cause of diseases commonly caused by fluoride. http://tinyurl.com/Susheela
– A study in the Fall 2008 Journal of Public Health Dentistry reveals that cavity-free teeth have little to do with fluoride intake. Researchers report, “The benefits of fluoride are mostly topical…while fluorosis is clearly more dependent on fluoride intake.”
A Tennessee State legislator who is also an MD is urging all Tennessee Water Districts to stop fluoridation, reported a Tennessee newspaper on 11/29/08. At least 30 Tennessee water districts have already complied with his request.(6)
On 1/5/09, the Burlington Board of Health recommended that Burlington cease fluoridation because fluoridation can harm some people. (7)
On 1/6/09, a Canadian town, Drayton, stopped fluoridation, not to save money, but because it was in the best interests of residents, said the Mayor. (8)
On 2/10/2009 Skagit County, WA officials reversed their 2007 fluoridation decision. (9)
On 3/3/2009, Plainfield, Vermont bans fluoridation. (10)
The Arkansas Oral Health Director is accused of giving eight “false or misleading statements” on fluoridation to an Arkansas legislative Committee. (12)
Nobel Prize winner in Medicine, Dr. Arvid Carlsson, says, “Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It’s really obsolete.”
An Online Action Petition to Congress in support of the Professionals’ Statement is available on FAN’s web site, http://congress.fluorideaction.net and over 19,000 individuals have signed so far.
Fluoride jeopardizes health – even at low levels deliberately added to public water supplies, according to data presented in a 2006 National Academy of Sciences’ (NAS) National Research Council (NRC) report. Fluoride poses risks to the thyroid gland, diabetics, kidney patients, high water drinkers and others and can severely damage children’s teeth. (11) At least three panel members advise avoiding fluoridated water.
“The NRC fluoride report dramatically changed scientific understanding of fluoride’s health risks,” says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network. “Government officials who continue to promote fluoridation must testify under oath as to why they are ignoring the powerful evidence of harm in the NRC report,” he added.
The Professionals’ Statement also references:
– The new American Dental Association policy recommending infant formula NOT be prepared with fluoridated water.
– The CDC’s concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic.
– CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children.
– Major research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities.
– A Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG), a DC watchdog, revealed that a Harvard professor concealed the fluoridation/bone cancer connection for three years. EWG President Ken Cook states, “It is time for the US to recognize that fluoridation has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, and unlike many other environmental issues, it’s as easy to end as turning off a valve at the water plant.”
Adverse health effects of fluoride: http://www.FluorideAction.Net/health
References:
(1a) http://www.nteu280.org/Issues/Fluoride/Press%20Release.%20Fluoride.htm
(1) http://www.fluoridealert.org/communities.htm
(2) http://www.fluoridealert.org/cape.html
(3) National Kidney Foundation, “Fluoride Intake in Chronic Kidney Disease,” April 15, 2008
http://www.kidney.org/atoz/pdf/Fluoride_Intake_in_CKD.pdf
(4) “Adding fluoride to water supplies,” British Medical Journal, KK Cheng, Iain Chalmers, Trevor A. Sheldon, October 6, 2007
(5) http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18695947?ordinalpos=2&itool=EntrezSystem2.PEntrez.Pubmed.Pubmed_ResultsPanel.Pubmed_DefaultReportPanel.Pubmed_RVDocSum
(6) http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/2840202
(7) http://www.swabvt.org/node/300
(8) http://www.draytonvalleywesternreview.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1373584
(9) http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/commissioners_vote_to_halt_fluoride_program/
(10) http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090303/NEWS0301/90303100/1009/NEWS01
(11) National Research Council (2003-2006): Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards
http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/epa/nrc/
(12) “State oral health director challenged over comments about fluoridation,”
March 10, 2009,by Kathryn Lucariello, Carroll County News
http://www.carrollconews.com/story/1509198.html
SOURCE: Fluoride Action Network http://www.FluorideAction.Net
Thanks for the comment, a lot of articles for people to do their own research!
This link http://www.pauapress.com/fluoride/files/1418.pdf accesses information about adverse health effects from fluoridation that The Establishment claims do not exist.
Via this link you can access, free, Dr Bruce Spittle’s book “Fluoride Fatigue” that is sub-titled “Fluoride Poisoning: is fluoride in your drinking water and from other sources making you sick?”
Please turn to page 76 and read about the author who has received numerous medical awards and prizes.
Dr Spittle is the Managing Editor of “Fluoride” the official journal of the International Society for Fluoride Research and has meticulously referenced “Fluoride Fatigue” for the doubting Thomases who still think that fluoridation is safe for all.
I am happy to read that the editors at AirAndAqua understand the issue of fluoridation and the concerns with adding a dangerous chemical to the drinking water.
In a recent letter I printed to a central MN newspaper, I tried to apply this line of logic:
“I do not have a problem with people deciding to use fluoride themselves, but I have a major problem with people making this decision for me. You do not have the right to decide if I need to get a flu shot, wash behind my ears, or add salt to my dinner. So why should you get to decide how I treat myself for oral health?
My neighbor’s health is not at risk if I use xylitol toothpaste if I feel it is safer and does a better job fighting cavities than fluoridated toothpaste, so why do you feel the need to determine what is added to my drinking water (which by the way, people only drink 1% of daily household water while 99% is not).”
Great job CleanWaterMN,
We completely agree with you. It is not only a matter of the fact that fluoride is dangerous but how they force it upon the population. It’s absolute control and takes away your freedom of choice.