State law will now force Lafayette to add the poisonous chemical fluoride to our water system unless we act quickly and aggressively.
Fluoride is a very toxic industrial waste that ordinarily would be costly to dispose of. Although not an expert, I do read what experts have said in recent reports. Please use Google to search two words, “fluoride danger” and then read a few of the more than 300,000 resulting articles, many by medical professionals.
Many dentists favor fluoridation, contending that it is beneficial for the development of teeth in young children. But beware, because a little too much causes mottled and brittle teeth, called dental fluorosis, and recent studies show lowered IQ and cognitive-function disorders in children may result.
The American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control both advise not to use fluoride water to mix infant formulas.
Once it is dumped into our drinking water, there is no way to control our daily fluoride dose from cooking, tea, ice, soft drinks and water.
Fluoride is not a nutrient like calcium. The body has no need for it, and there is none in human milk. Fluoride is an active toxin in some rat poisons and cockroach powders. It is more poisonous than lead and slightly less poisonous than arsenic. It destroys thyroid tissue, makes bones weak and brittle and is suspected in bone cancer. It builds up in the brain, damages kidneys and causes a variety of other health problems. In countries where water is naturally high in fluoride, residents tend to age early, develop arthritis, have bones that shatter like glass and die before 50. The American Kidney Foundation now opposes fluoridation because of damage and even death to those with kidney problems.
The only way we can prevent fluoridation is through a petition signed by 15 percent of registered voters and a municipal election. I hope some local organizations will accept the challenge and provide leadership to defeat this ill-considered state law.
James W. Reeves is a retired professor of civil engineering at UL.
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