Ignoring scientific evidence of harm, the Louisiana State Senate passed a fluoridation mandate bill which, if approved by the House, will require fluoride chemicals be added to most of Louisiana’s public water supplies, ostensibly to reduce tooth decay. (The Advocate, 5/29/08)
However, a 2006 review of fluoride toxicology literature conducted by the prestigious National Research Council (NRC) reveals that ingested fluoride, even at low levels used for fluoridation, poses risks to infants, diabetics, kidney patients, high water drinkers and those with low thyroid function. Many cities are stopping fluoridation.
“Sadly, fluoridation proponents orchestrated and paid for a slick but inaccurate PR campaign. As a result legislators have only heard one side of the story,” says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action Network.
Connett urges Louisianan’s to contact their House representatives to stop the money-wasting fluoridation mandate at la.www.fluoridealert.org , or call their representative at 225-342-6945.
With American Dental Association funding, the Louisiana Dental Association (LDA) hired public relations and lobbying firms to promote fluoridation, according to the Journal of the Louisiana Dental Association (Winter 2007).
In October 2007, the National Kidney Foundation withdrew its position paper on fluoridation to re-evaluate available literature. Yet, they are listed under
Louisiana’s “Healthy Smiles Coalition” as favoring fluoridation.
“Fluoridation proponents always pull out a dubious laundry list of supporters – virtually none of which have revisited their position since the groundbreaking NRC report was published,” says Connett.
“Despite 60 years of fluoridation, no U.S. research has ever studied fluoridation’s effect on many disorders such as arthritis, underactive thyroid, children’s lower IQ and bone fractures, or Alzheimer’s disease,” says Connett.
The NRC reports babies are fluoride-overdosed and risk dental fluorosis (discolored teeth) from “optimal” fluoridation levels (approximately 1 part per million). Consequently, both the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control advise against mixing formula with fluoridated water.
“Fluoridated water is actually 250 times higher than the level in mothers’ milk (0.004 ppm),” says Connett. “Parents who bottle feed their babies using fluoridated tap water will dose their babies with 250 times more fluoride than nature intended.”
Over 1,700 professionals urge Congress to stop water fluoridation and conduct hearings, citing the new scientific evidence that fluoridation is ineffective and has serious health risks. See statement: here
http://www.fluoridealert.org/statement.august.2007.html
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