Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader?

These PS 122 5th graders from Astoria, Queens chose to study fluoridation as a class research project. At a rally with Queens councilor Peter Vallone in Manhattan last Tuesday, they urged the New York City Council to stop endangering their health by adding fluoride chemicals into their bodies via the water supply. (See this link with video.) No one asked them, they said. Any legislator who claims they can't understand fluoridation isn't as smart as a fifth grader who does her homework!

Fairbanks (AK) City Council votes 5-1 to end fluoridation

Congratulations Fairbanks, Alaska and www.fluoridefreefairbanks.org.

If only the Burlington (VT) city council would have the balls to decide yea or nay (and show some responsibility as elected city officers). Two councilor-appointed city commissions have recommended the removal of fluoride in the city's water supply (Board of Health and Public Works commission), and the council takes no action! It's been more than 5 years that the council have been kicking this around. Get with it, already!

And not surprisingly, Ralph Nader has called for a national debate on mandatory water fluoridation.

Fluoride - Meeting tonight of the Burlington Public Safety Committe

Just a reminder!   Tonight the Burlington Public Safety Committee is meeting to discuss two recent recommendations from city bodies to discontinue fluoridation.   The Board of Health and a subcommittee of the Public Works Department have both recommended that the city stop water fluoridation.

 

Tonight (February 1st, 2011)

Burlington Police Department (Community Room)

1 North Ave, Burlington, VT (Use south entrance)

 7pm-9pm

History: Earth Day and Fluoride

PhillyBurbs. com:-

The Donora Smog that killed residents of a Pennsylvania town in 1948 was the first in a series of environmental disasters that led to today's environmental consciousness.

Cathy Milbourn, air quality spokeswoman for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, said the "fluoride fog" was one of the key events that prompted a cry for pollution control legislation.

"That supposedly triggered the first Clean Air Act," she said. "It's been said that if the smog lasted another day, it would have killed 1,000 instead of 20."

Fluoride Among Top 10 Household Toxins

TIME Magazine: Fluoride is Neurotoxic and potentially tumorigenic if swallowed.

Austin Citizens Do Battle with Fluoridation

Take a look at this video of citizens testifying before the Austin Environmental Board on December 2. We see both ordinary citizens and specialists, who have been shocked after reading up on the stupid practice of water fluoridation, speaking truth to power.

Study finds relationship between Community Water Fluoridation and Premature Births in Upstate NY

The New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation (NYSCOF) sent out a news release on a new study that links fluoride to premature births in New York. According to NYSCOF, "State University of New York (SUNY) researchers found more premature births in fluoridated than non-fluoridated upstate New York communities, according to a presentation made at the American Public Health Association's annual meeting on November 9, 2009 in Philadelphia."

According to the study by Hart et al.,

"... Domestic water fluoridation was associated with an increased risk of PTB [preterm birth] (9545 (6.34%) PTB among women exposed to domestic water fluoridation versus 25278 (5.52%) PTB among those unexposed, p <>10% poverty) and those of non-white racial origin. Domestic water fluoridation was independently associated with an increased risk of PTB in logistic regression, after controlling for age, race/ethnicity, neighborhood poverty level, hypertension, and diabetes..."

• See the study.
• Read the NYSCOF's news release.
  

PLAINFIELD (VT) BANS FLUORIDE

FOX 44 TV:- PLAINFIELD, Vt. (AP) - The town of Plainfield has voted to remove fluoride from its drinking water.

In a voice vote after a lengthy floor discussion on Tuesday's Town Meeting Day, residents voted in favor of the ban.

Supporters say they want to have the choice whether or not to ingest fluoride and don't want to be forcefully medicated.

Great, disappointed as I was that Andy didn't win in Burlington, the news from Plainfield makes the 2009 Vermont Town Meeting Day one to remember. Now...after the Burlington BoH passed a resolution to remove fluoride from the tap water, the City Council and the re-elected mayor just have to get their asses in gear to make the right decision for our city, too.

HOW CORPORATIONS AND TRADE ASSOCIATIONS ATTEMPT TO INFLUENCE SCIENTIFIC INQUIRY

From TRNN:



It's old news, really. And I'll bet you all the hydrofluorosicilic acid in Burlington's water that the same kind of lobbying of "scientists" - the squelching of knowledge for profit - regarding fluoride goes on at the Vermont Department of Health, too.

'TINY AMOUNTS'

SWABVT.ORG

The City of Burlington’s water contains 1 part per million (1 ppm) of fluoride. We keep hearing that the fluoride is diluted so much that its toxic effects are essentially diluted out. But is 1 ppm REALLY such a minute quantity as to be without any effect?

One ppm of fluoride means that every liter of water contains 1 milligram, or 1 mg, of fluoride. So, for every liter of fluoridated water you drink, whether it is in the form of water, or a beverage such as soda, coffee, juice, or beer, that is prepared with fluoridated water, you consume 1 mg of fluoride. And Brita and Pur filters do not filter out fluoride.

People also consume additional fluoride from other sources: toothpaste, processed cereals, mechanically de-boned chicken, tea (the leaves of which accumulate Fluoride), fish, and pesticides residues in wine, fruits and vegetables – all of these foods frequently contain varying levels of fluoride, sometimes several mgs per serving.

So how much fluoride do you ingest per day? Adding up the beverages you drink, the toothpaste you use, and consumption of the many foods that contain fluoride, you are likely ingesting several mgs of fluoride per day, half of which is stored in your body indefinitely, and builds up over time. And a few mgs a day is not insignificant.
---
So how do you control this? When your children are drinking city water, juices, brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste, eating chicken, and processed cereals? The answer is you can’t, and their largest exposure is coming from the drinking water.

EPA used a “safe dose” for adults of 8 mgs per day in setting its drinking water limit, however, this dose has since been found by the National Research Council to be too high to prevent adverse health effects. A daily dose of 20 mgs of fluoride is known to cause crippling skeletal fluorosis. Safety factors of 10 are normally built in to provide the public with an adequate margin of safety. This would result in an acceptable dose of 2 mg per day, or the amount you consume in only 2 L of water.
[...Continue reading all of "Tiny Amounts"]

BURLINGTON BOARD OF HEALTH VOTES AGAINST WATER FLUORIDATION

Burlington has fluoridated its drinking water since 1952.

In March, 2005 the Burlington Board of Health began investigations regarding the continuation of adding fluoride into the city's water. After two public forums the board voted 3-2 to continue the practice, but advised the city council to reduce the amount, which the council ordered (The amount was reduced to 1/ppm from 1.7.). Enough signatures were gathered in 2006 to have a ballot item to stop the addition of fluoride to the drinking water. That item failed at the City Election in March, 2006.

In November, 2008 the board received new information concerning water fluoridation.

Tonight, the board voted on a resolution to discontinue water fluoridaton in Burlington. Board members Fern Crete and I [I am a board of health commissioner] presented the following resolution:

In light of recent scientific developments indicating the potential for harm to certain subsets of the population, the Burlington Board of Health recommends immediately taking a precautionary stance by discontinuing the practice of water fluoridation. It is our opinion that drinking water should be pure and safe for all.

JUSTIFICATION

● In 2006 the National Research Council's published report entitled “Fluoride in Drinking Water” identified vulnerable subsets of the population who may be at an increased risk from the toxic effects of fluoride. These subsets include infants, diabetics, kidney patients, and those with impaired thyroid function.
● Following the NRC's report the American Dental Association recommended that infants (0 -6 months of age) not receive fluoridated water.
● In 2008 the National Kidney Foundation discontinued its support of community water fluoridation and stated that kidney patients should be notified of the potential risks from fluoride exposure.
● The chemical being added to Burlington's water supply is Hydrofluorosilisic Acid. It is a highly toxic industrial byproduct of phosphate fertilizer manufacturing. There are virtually no human health effects studies on these fluorosilicate compounds.
● The intended purpose of adding fluoridation chemicals to the water is to provide a medical benefit to the consumer by preventing tooth decay. While we do not use the public drinking water as a medium for delivering other medications, it is our opinion that fluoride should be no exception. As with any other drug, fluoride has side effects.
● It is the opinion of the Burlington Board of Health that the public water supply should be safe for all Burlington residents with emphasis on infants, kidney patients, diabetics, and those with impaired thyroid function.

This time the resolution to remove fluoride from the city's drinking water passed 3-2. The Board will send its recommendation to the city council.

UPDATE

From SWABVT: the media advisory on the board's vote.

Further reading: I referred to the National Research Council: Fluoride in Drinking Water in my motion last night.

SWAB RELAUNCH

In a yet another Burlington Free Press PR puff piece yesterday it is claimed the Centers for Disease Control has named Burlington as America's healthiest city [sic] The CDC would never in a million years state this; the article is pure City of Burlington interpretation with the Free Press acting as its mouthpiece.

Nowhere in that article will you read that toxic waste products continue to be added to our drinking water.

Yes, Safe Water Advocates of Burlington are back, under new leadership.

Come One, Come All, to the Website Launch Party for SWAB VT (Safe Water Advocates of Burlington, Vermont), at Bite Me Organic Pizzeria, 457 St. Paul St., on Wednesday from 6 to 9! Slices are buy-one, get-one-free. The Itinerary is as follows:

6:00: Sign the petition to End Water Fluoridation!
6:30: Documentary Showing: "Professional Perspectives"
7:00: Campaign Leaders explain the nature of SWAB VT's campaign to end water fluoridation, clarify the volunteer opportunities, and hold a Q&A session about fluoridation and the What's In Our Water? campaign.
8:00: www.swabvt.org makes its Debut!

Please, invite three friends to this event, and show up yourselves! The space is small but we want it to be cozy! We can't wait to see you and get this party kicked off right!

Wishing you well,
Carlie, Kevin and Geoff of SWAB VT: Advocating for your right to safe tap water.

AN ENVIRONMENTALIST SPEAKS OUT AGAINST WATER FLUORIDATION

In this video, Brent Foster, the State Conservation Chair for the Oregon Sierra Club, explains why he came to oppose water fluoridation.


An Environmental Professional Speaks Out on Water Fluoridation from Fluoride Action Network on Vimeo

PROFESSIONAL PERSPECTIVES: FLUORIDE IN TAP WATER

Concerned about health safety of fluoride? Go:look here.

SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT FLUORIDE

By Dan Fagin Scientific American January 2008, pages 74–81
Second Thoughts about Fluoride

EXCERPTS

Page 75: KEY CONCEPTS

• Researchers are intensifying their scrutiny of fluoride, which is added to most public water systems in the U.S. Some recent studies suggest that overconsumption of fluoride can raise the risks of disorders affecting teeth, bones, the brain and the thyroid gland.

• A 2006 report by a committee of the National Research Council recommended that the federal government lower its current limit for fluoride in drinking water because of health risks to both children and adults

Page 75: Most fluoridated water contains much less fluoride than the EPA limit, but the situation is worrisome because there is so much uncertainty over how much additional fluoride we ingest from food, beverages and dental products. What is more, the NRC panel noted that fluoride may also trigger more serious health problems, including bone cancer and damage to the brain and thyroid gland. Although these effects are still unproved, the panel argued that they deserve further study.

Page 75: TOO MUCH OF A GOOD THING: Fluoride is in many foods, beverages and dental products. The ubiquity of the cavity-fighting chemical can result in overconsumption, particularly among young children.

Page 78: Scientific attitudes toward fluoridation may be starting to shift in the country where the practice began.

Continue reading more excerpts of "Second Thoughts about Fluoride"...

(Full Article: available on-line for $4.95.)

Health experts bare teeth on fluoride

The POLITICO - Health experts bare teeth on fluoride ---

More than 600 scientists and health experts are urging Congress to halt the addition of fluoride to public drinking water until the controversial treatment is proven safe.

In a strong statement Thursday [9 August 2007], the health professionals called upon lawmakers to stop fluoridation in communities across the nation until their safety concerns are reviewed at congressional hearings. The group, the Fluoride Action Network, cited fresh scientific evidence that fluoridation, long promoted to fight tooth decay, is ineffective and carries serious health risks

No hearings on fluoridation are currently planned before any Senate or House committee.

Among the petitioners is Arvid Carlsson, 84, a Swedish scientist best known for his work with the neurotransmitter dopamine and its effects in Parkinson's disease and a co-recipient the 2000 Nobel Prize for Medicine. “Fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology,” he said. “It's really obsolete.” ...more

Remember: It comes with the ADA Seal of Approval

Keep in mind, that the "fake" toothpaste had even higher amounts of fluoride than the high amounts in US brands (1,000-1,5000 ppm) ostensibly because those "unfortunate" foreigners don't have the "benefit" of fluoridated water. In addition to the diethylene glycol contamination of the toothpaste, the overload of fluoride itself was undoubtedly a major factor in the poisoning of those US kids who were hospitalized after using the bad toothpaste (as reported by Diane Sawyer on ABC's Good Morning America on June 18).