Fluoride is a major industrial pollutant, one which has caused widespread damage to fluoride-exposed workers and downwind communities. During the Cold War, fluoride was responsible for more litigation against U.S. industry than all other air pollutants combined. Although the development of modern pollution control technology has resulted in significant reductions in fluoride emissions, millions of workers around the world remain at risk for respiratory, neurological, and bone diseases from fluoride exposure, and downwind communities remain at risk in countries with weak environmental regulation.
Fluoride and fluorine releases in the U.S.
We have distilled the following information from the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Toxic Release Inventory, with these categories:
- By Year: Fluoride Releases, 1995-2015
- By Industrial Sector: Hydrogen Fluoride Releases, 1995-2015
- By State: Fluoride Releases, 1995-2015
- Hydrogen Fluoride: Top Polluters, 1995-2015
- Fluorine: Releases by Industry, 1995-2015
- Sulfuryl Fluoride: Releases, 1995-2015
- Fluorinated Ozone Depleting Gases Tracked by TRI
- Pesticides & Other Fluoride Compounds Tracked by TRI
- Fluorides Not Tracked By TRI
Coal-fired electric utilities
The TRI has consistently reported the fluoride releases from coal-fired electric utilities, which are among the largest emitters of fluoride in the U.S. For example:
TRI: Rank by Industrial Sector for Hydrogen Fluoride Releases in 2010-2015 (see more)
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| Category (TRI Code) |
2010 In Pounds |
2012 In Pounds |
2014 In Pounds |
2015 In Pounds |
2016 In Pounds |
| Coal-fired electric utilities (NAICS 2211) |
Releases= 30,564,185 Wastes= 95,760,703 |
Releases= 21,590,813 Wastes= 81,872,956 |
Releases= 15,766,413 Wastes= 84,395,448 |
Releases= 12,296,177 Wastes = 60,411,985 |
Releases= 9,084,392 Wastes = 52,679,789 |
2019 report on Coal Ash
The Environmental Integrity Project produced this much needed report: Coal’s Poisonous Legacy. Groundwater Contaminated by Coal Ash Across the U.S. Throughout the report, the health-based threshold that was used for fluoride was 4 mg/L. For “unsafe groundwater caused by coal ash” 7% of the plants (18/265) exceeded this threshold for fluoride.
This threshold of 4 mg/L is what the EPA still has on its books for both the Maximum Contaminant Level (MCL) and its goal (MCLG), even though the 2006 report of the National Research Council of the National Academies, Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards, stated: “In light of the collective evidence on various health end points and total exposure to fluoride, the committee concludes that EPA’s MCLG of 4 mg/L should be lowered… page 10″
NOTE: THIS PAGE IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. Please check back soon for updates!
In the meantime, we recommend the following links:
Reviews:
- The Phosphate Fertilizer Industry: An Environmental Overview
- EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory on Fluorides and Fluorine
- Fluorides in the Air
- Air is “Fluoridated”
Fluoride in the Workplace:
News on Fluoride-Polluting Industries:
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The Absurdities of Water Fluoridation
[caption id="attachment_10205" align="alignleft" width="190"] Paul Connett, PhD[/caption] Water fluoridation is a peculiarly American phenomenon. It started at a time when Asbestos lined our pipes, lead was added to gasoline, PCBs filled our transformers and DDT was deemed so "safe and effective" that officials felt no qualms spraying kids in school classrooms
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Why I am now officially opposed to adding fluoride to drinking water
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF-hKlIgCuM April, 2000 To whom it may concern: Since April of 1999, I have publicly decried the addition of fluoride, especially hydrofluosilicic acid, to drinking water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. The following summarize my reasons. New evidence for lack of effectiveness of fluoridation in modern times. [caption id="attachment_10211" align="alignleft" width="150"] Dr. Hardy
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50 Reasons to Oppose Fluoridation
Introduction [caption id="attachment_11821" align="alignleft" width="200"] Dr. Paul Connett[/caption] In Europe, only Ireland (73%), Poland (1%), Serbia (3%), Spain (11%), and the U.K. (11%) fluoridate any of their water. Most developed countries, including Japan and 97% of the western European population, do not consume fluoridated water. In the U.S., about 70% of public water supplies are
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Fluoride & IQ: 76 Studies
• As of July 18, 2022, a total of 85 human studies have investigated the relationship between fluoride and human intelligence. • Of these investigations, 76 studies have reported that elevated fluoride exposure is associated with reduced IQ in humans. • The studies which reported an association of reduced IQ with exposure
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Fluoride's Effect on Fetal Brain
The human placenta does not prevent the passage of fluoride from a pregnant mother's bloodstream to the fetus. As a result, a fetus can be harmed by fluoride ingested pregnancy. Based on research from China, the fetal brain is one of the organs susceptible to fluoride poisoning. As highlighted by the excerpts
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Fluoride: Developmental Neurotoxicity.
Developmental Neurotoxicity There has been a tremendous amount of research done on the association of exposure to fluoride with developmental neurotoxicity. There are over 60 studies reporting reduced IQ in children and several on the impaired learning/memory in animals. And there are studies which link fluoride to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Teaching
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Email Exchange with FDA re: Fluoride Supplements
Email exchange regarding FDA's reasons for not approving fluoride supplements.
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Harvard's Statement on Chester Douglass/Scientific Misconduct
Statement Concerning the Outcome of the Review into Allegations of Research Misconduct Involving Fluoride Research BOSTON-August 15, 2006-The Harvard Medical School and School of Dental Medicine (HSDM) review of Chester Douglass, DMD, PhD, professor of oral health policy and epidemiology at HSDM, has concluded that Douglass did not intentionally omit, misrepresent,
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The 'Altered Recommendations' of the 1983 Surgeon General's Panel
"We believe that EPA staff and managers should be called to testify, along with members of the 1983 Surgeon Generals panel and officials of the Department of Human Services, to explain how the original recommendations of the Surgeon Generals panel were altered to allow EPA to set otherwise unjustifiable drinking water standards for fluoride."
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