Fluoride from Industrial Wastes contaminate water

[Guest guest]

(Take note of the CDC's William Maas' mis-information and we need to do something about it - but what?) Fluoride Friend Or Foe? Part OneRose Ann HavenWKRG Channel 5 (CBS affiliate out of Mobile, Alabama)Thursday, February 15, 2007 Part 1 Did you know the fluoride in your toothpaste isn't the same as what we drink? This fluoride... we spit out is pharmaceutical grade. The fluoride local governments put in your drinking water is industrial grade.Does it matter? Should you care? North Baldwin utilities does... the water board stop putting this in the water. Community coverage you can count looks at fluoride facts. Nothing brightens a smile like a set of pearly whites. The dental community gives fluoride much of the credit. "It simply makes the teeth harder. You really can't understand that until you've put a dental drill on them and see how much harder the teeth are" says Doctor David Tillery, a long time dentist in the Baldwin County town of Bay Minette. Tillery is a staunch supporter of community water fluoridation and believes it's responsible for saving teeth of many people who otherwise would be wearing dentures. "it's a hazardous waste. It's a hazardous byproduct, it would have to be disposed of in accordance with E.P.A. standards for handling hazardous waste. As it stands now, they can sell it to water districts and we can get rid of it by putting it in the water", says Margo Allen, Ph.D. She questions whether we're risking overall health for strong teeth. Allen uses a filter in her home to remove the chemical. But, as a member of the North Baldwin Utilities Board, she recently voted to stop adding fluoride to the water supply. Allen says, "I sit on the board for a utilities company. We provide water for our customers. We have a fiduciary responsibility to ensure that what we put in the water at our treatment plants is not going to harm the citizens that we serve. We're going to remove the fluoride and we're going to give our customers a choice, and we're going to recommend that they continue to brush their teeth and continue to use fluoride on an oral basis and see their dentist. That is from a standpoint of informed consent. I think we're all concerned with informed consent." A video entitled _DRINKING WATER, "LET THE TRUTH BE TOLD_ (http://www.iaomt.org/) ", has the attention of water board members. In the video you'll find information also put out by the Fluoride Action Network, a group against fluoridated drinking water. Fluoride opponents point to research in other countries showing adverse health affects. _Dr. Robert Isaacson_ (http://psychology.binghamton.edu/Faculty/isaacson.html) , Distinguished Professor of Psychology in Binghamton New York, studied fluoride in rats. He says, "Fluoride treated animals developed anatomical changes in the brain that are dramatically similar to those in the alzheimer's patient." Dr. Isaacson says the kidneys were also affected, "The kidneys were greatly impaired, and sometimes the space that is absolutely essential to the absorption of waste products in the kidneys...was almost non-existent Of course, if it is non-existent you have a fatal situation". Isaacson says as someone who's served on a National Research Council Fluoride Committee, he's concerned of the lack of studies done on hydrofluorosilicic acid which goes into drinking water. He says a plan of experimental studies endorsed by the National Program of Toxicology never came about. "Yet, I must say that unpleasant fact that this set of studies was never undertaken by the EPA for unknown reasons. One of the parts of the program which was going to be most essential was to repeat many of the studies which had been done with the aluminum fluoride and the sodium fluoride with the fluorsilicic acid which is the most commonly used chemical in the fluoridation of drinking water. Researchers also point to the results of a Harvard Study published in 2006. Dr. Elise B. Bassin has a background in Dental Health and Dentistry. She's always been taught fluoride is safe and effective. So, what she discovered surprised her. She found a link between fluoride levels in drinking water and bone cancer in young boys. Despite her research, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta still strongly supports fluoridated water. "The National Research Council looked at all the studies that were available. They actually had a pre-publication copy of Dr. Bassin's work", says Dr. William Maas, Director of the Division of Oral Health. Doctor Maas adds, "In the case of fluoride, we actually have a recent report. The National Academy of Sciences is a group that the EPA goes to when they're trying to get an objective answer to these questions. You know we have thousands of studies about fluoride in drinking water. So in order to sort that all out, you need to form a panel of experts people coming from all different scientific backgrounds, and so they've done that with the national research council." The National Research Council released a report on fluoride in drinking water in March of 2006. The committee concluded "The evidence to date is tentative and mixed as to whether fluoride has the potential to initiate or promote cancers, particularly of the bone." The committee found the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum drinking water standard for fluoride..."does not protect against adverse health effects." Children in communities with higher fluoride levels are at risk of "developing severe tooth enamel fluorosis"...spots on the teeth, and people drinking higher levels of fluoride "over a lifetime are likely at increased risk for bone fractures." Dr. Bill Hirzy is a Scientist with the E.P.A. As a spokesperson for his Union, he's taken his group's concerns to lawmakers in Washington. "We've studied the toxicity of fluoride for a long time. We started into this many many years ago when an employee came to us saying that he was being asked to write a regulation which he felt violated his sense of professional ethics, basically that E.P.A said that the dose that would be safe to drink would would actually in fact cause a substantial fracture of the people to have a condition called moderate to severe dental fluorosis, and we got involved in looking at the toxicity of fluoride when the employee came to us with that complaint. Over the years, our concern has grown as other toxic effects become apparent", says Hirzy. But, despite fluoride opposition, fluoridated water gets the stamp of approval from leading national organizations like the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control. Hirzy claims, "Those organizations have their institutional reputations involved in this. They hate to admit having made a mistake".Dr. Maas admits fluoride put in drinking water is industrial grade, but, he says it passes standards set by the National Sanitation Foundation and the American National Standards Institute. He says the byproduct is safe and environmentally friendly, "There's nothing toxic about the ore that's left after they remove the phosphates. In fact for many of the companies, they take the remaining ore and put it in a landfill on their property..because there's nothing toxic about it". But, the CDC says it continually monitors and evaluates scientific information on fluoridation as part of it's responsibility for public health assurance and protection." In the meantime, the government agency looking out for your public health wants you to enjoy the benefits fluoride offers and drink up. "Fluoride is a first line of defense for the poor and indigent. There are thousands of children out there that simply can't afford proper dental care and the only thing they have is fluoride in the water That's all they've got says, Dr. Tillery. The E.P.A'S maximum standard for fluoride in the water is higher than what most american communities actually have. The maximum standard is 4 parts per million. The optimal level is considered about one part per million. To help put that into perspective, The American Dental Association says to think of it as being equivalent to about one inch in 16 miles or one penny in 10-thousand dollars. In part 2 of Fluoride Facts, find out how much fluoride is in your water, and what mothers need to know about fluoridated water before using it to mix baby formula. Story Links: _ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY_ (http://www.epa.gov/safewater/hfacts.html) _AMERICAN DENTAL ASSOCIATION_ (http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/index.asp) _CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION_ (http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/osteosarcoma.htm) _NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL “FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER, A SCIENTIFIC REVIEW OF EPA’S STANDARDS”_ (http://www.nationalacademies.org/nrc/) _FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK_ (http://fluoridealert.org/) _AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE_ (http://www.ansi.org/) _NATIONAL SANITATION FOUNDATION_ (http://www.nsf.org/) _EPA HEADQUARTERS UNION - DR. BILL HIRZY_ (http://www.nteu280.org/) _http://www.wkrg.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WKRG/MGArticle/KRG_BasicArticle & c=MGArticle & cid=1149193222247_ (http://www.wkrg.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WKRG/MGArticle/KRG_BasicArticle & c=MGArticle & cid=1149193222247) (http://a1.interclick.com/getInPageTarget.aspx?a=51 & b=5941 & cid=1169238141458) (http://ads.mgnetwork.com/RealMedia/ads/click_nx.ads/wkrg.com/news@Left3?x) Part 2 Boiling tap water to sterilize it, then mixing it with baby formula is something new parents do all the time. Most do it without giving a second thought about the fluoride in the water. Boiling water does not remove the fluoride. Now, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued a statement for mothers concerned about it. _http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/infant_formula.htm_'>http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/infant_formula.htm_ (http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/infant_formula.htm) Dental fluorosis isn't pretty to look at, spots on the teeth caused by excessive fluoride use. Researchers who oppose fluoridated water say this is proof our children are getting too much fluoride. Dr. William Hirzy, a scientist with the Environmental Protection Agency speaks on behalf of his Union. "The toxicity of this stuff compared to any therapeutic benefit is way out of bounds", says Hirzy. But, dental health professionals have long said dental fluorosis is a cosmetic problem not a health issue. "You take anyone that's got dental fluorosis and you'll find that their teeth are in excellent condition and extremely hard", says Dr. David Tillery a long time dentist in Bay Minette. Now, the American Dental Association, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are posting new information about mixing infant formula with fluoridated water after a recent study. Dr. William Maas, CDC Director of Oral Health says, "It seemed to be some evidence that exposure to fluoride from the re-constituted formula during that first year of life was associated with some increase risk of fluorosis". Even though high fluoride exposure affects the teeth, Dr. Maas says we shouldn't be worried about what it's doing to our bones, "Your bones are very different, your bones are turning over all the time, 99 percent of the fluoride that's in the body, is in the bones, and the bones are constantly being re-structured and being re-shaped a we grow". The CDC recognizes community water fluoridation as one of the great public health achievements of the 20th Century. "Oh, absolutely it's safe. The issue is entirely about whether someone is concerned about reducing already a low risk. But, reducing still further..the risk of some cosmetic blemishes on the teeth". Dr. Maas says fluoride is a naturally occuring mineral. It's also found in drinks and food processed in fluoridated communities. Maas says the biggest threat of fluorosis isn't from drinking fluoridated water, but, from children swallowing toothpaste during the early years when teeth are forming. He says if you're worried about your child getting spots, even on their back teeth, control their fluoride exposure through age eight. "The most important thing to know is..........does your water supply have a normal than optimal level, an optimal level or a greater than optimal level. Because that is the basis for all the future decisions", says Maas. To find out how much fluoride is in your water...you can call your utility company and ask. FLuoride occurs naturally in water. So, if you have a home well, you may want to have a lab test your water. The CDC says your dentist, physician, or public health department should be able to help you with that. But, there are kits you can buy to test the water yourself. North Baldwin Utilities gets it's supplies from USA Bluebook. _http://www.usabluebook.com/_'>http://www.usabluebook.com/_ (http://www.usabluebook.com/) Hanna Colorimeter - Stock # 52200 -- $190.00Fluoride Reagents - Stock # 52201 $23.00 _http://www.wkrg.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WKRG%2FMGArticle%2FKRG_BasicArticle & c=MGArticle & cid=1149193230049 & path=%21news%21local_ (http://www.wkrg.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WKRG/MGArticle/KRG_BasicArticle & c=MGArticle & cid=1149193230049 & path=!news!local) Send a thank you to WKRG here: _http://www.wkrg.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WKRG%2FPage%2FKRG_ContentPage & c=Page & cid=1057583191735_ (http://www.wkrg.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WKRG/Page/KRG_ContentPage & c=Page & cid=1057583191735)# Honorable Frank Burt, Jr. (a pharmacist)® - District No. 1 North Baldwin County Municipalities:City of Bay Minette Communities:Little River, Blacksher, Latham, Vaughn, Stockton, Redtown, Lottie, Rabun, Perdido, Carpenter, Blakeley, Bromley, Cottage Hill, Pine Grove, Whitehouse Forks, Crossroads, Dyas, Phillipsville, Vangordon, Stapleton & Steelwood Contact Information: Honorable Frank Burt, Jr.Office of Vice ChairmanOffice of County Commissioner, District No. 1Baldwin County CommissionBaldwin County Administration Building312 Courthouse Square, Suite 12Bay Minette, Alabama 36507 (251) 937-0395 - Phone(251) 580-2500 - Facsimile_fburt_ (Facsimilefburt) - Email Staff Contacts: Lori G. Ruffin, Records Manager(251) 580-2564 - Phone_lruffin_ (lruffin) - Email David A. Z. Brewer, Asst. County Administrator(251) 580-2550 - Phone_dbrewer_ (dbrewer) - Email BIOGRAPHY:_http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/PageView.asp?PageType=R & edit_id=522_ (http://www.co.baldwin.al.us/PageView.asp?PageType=R & edit_id=522) ck New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc._http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof_ (http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof) Fluoridation News Releases_http://tinyurl.com/6kqtu_ (http://tinyurl.com/6kqtu) Tooth Decay Crises in Fluoridated Areas_http://www.fluoridenews.blogspot.com/_ (http://www.fluoridenews.blogspot.com/) Fluoride Action Network _http://www.FluorideAction.Net_ (http://www.fluoridealert.org/) Fluoride Journal _http://www.FluorideResearch.Org_ (http://www.fluorideresearch.org/)