The addition of the toxic industrial waste chemical, hydrofluorosilicic acid, commonly referred to as fluoride, has been added to Brockville’s water supply for some time. The reason for this, according to the municipal council, who are advised by the Leeds Grenville Lanark District Health Unit, is to help prevent tooth decay.
Only 33 per cent of Canadians and less than five per cent of the world’s population still receive artificially fluoridated tap water. As more studies are done with reliable methodologies and results, the real effect this addition to municipal water supplies has on our health are staggering. Interference with the functioning of the thyroid and pineal gland, arthritis, dementia, increase in cancer, IQ reduction in children, brittle bones risk and fluorosis of teeth are some of the known health effects found.
It is the bio-accumulative damage to individual’s health that are ignored and studies that criticize fluoridation of public water are being dismissed as having methodology errors. Even though health authorities refer to the fluoride expert panel of Health Canada’s 2007-08 study as one of their guides, the effects on the thyroid gland aren’t even included. This panel also states that the conclusions are their opinion. Harvard Universities latest comprehensive study considers a wide spectrum of health effects that this toxic chemical waste derived from the phosphate industry contaminated with lead, arsenic, radionucleotides, aluminum and other industrial contaminants, has on overall health. Note this is not calcium fluoride that is naturally occurring in varying amounts in the environment. Hydrofluorosilicic acid is very absorbable and its addition does not consider the many other sources of fluoride in toothpaste, foods and drinks, pharmaceutical products and even babies formulas.
To top this off, according to a number of reliable studies, there is no absolute proof that this mass medication, given without the individuals consent, helps prevent tooth decay.
It seems doing the research individually for reliable information on health is required here. The Brockville chapter of the Council of Canadians is having an information session with guest speaker Richard Hudon, the president of Fluoridation Free Ottawa, on Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m., at the Brockville Public Library. This session is free of charge and is open to everyone. We invite you consider the information and make up your own mind about this important issue.
Maureen Wharton,
Brockville Chapter, Council of Canadians