Dear Editor: As we approach the 79th anniversary of National Fluoride Day on Jan. 25, it’s crucial to reflect on this tradition’s controversial legacy.

Over a dozen recent studies underscore the alarming impact of fluoride on brain health, correlating with lowered IQ and increased rates of ADHD in children, especially in fluoridated communities during fetal and infant development.

Writing as a concerned individual and a plaintiff in the Federal Fluoride TSCA Lawsuit against the EPA, our ongoing legal battle, initiated in 2017, addresses the neurotoxicity of fluoride added to public drinking water. With a final two-week trial starting Jan. 31, we urge a reevaluation of prevailing norms in water fluoridation.

Child development experts, including those in PFAS, lead and mercury, have researched fluoride extensively, suggesting its effects are on par with lead. Dr. Linda Birnbaum, a board-certified toxicologist, with 10 years directing the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program, states, “We don’t really need (fluoride) added to our drinking water anymore.”

In Wisconsin, most small utilities have eliminated fluoride due to hazards. Larger utilities should follow suit, recognizing that fluoride poses a threat to the brain comparable with lead. Actively involved in the water industry, I’ve seen growing awareness among small utilities; larger counterparts must prioritize community health.

The upcoming trial is an opportunity to reconsider the necessity of adding fluoride to our water, especially with mounting evidence linking it to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes. Let’s prioritize community health over outdated practices.

Brenda Staudenmaier

Madison

*Original full-text article online at: https://captimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/letter-79-years-of-brain-harming-fluoride-in-water/article_6e606486-af33-11ee-8626-8f0461ff3d03.html

Print PDF