Expert Testimony: How Your Drinking Water May Be Damaging Your Brain
July 01, 2014
Story at-a-glance
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Dallas is considering whether or not to renew a
three-year, $1.8-million contract that provides their
drinking water with fluoride
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Set to expire January 1, 2015, if Dallas ends
fluoridation, it will become the largest city in the US
to stop fluoridating its water
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Dr. Paul Connett, director of the Fluoride Action
Network (FAN), recently testified before the Dallas
council, giving expert commentary on why water
fluoridation must be challenged
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The adulteration of the public water supply with
fluoride violates your right to informed consent to
medical treatment
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Fluoride is fundamentally a poison, with no beneficial
biological role in the human body, and the effectiveness
of swallowing fluoride to reduce tooth decay has never
been demonstrated by a randomized controlled trial
By Dr. Mercola
The fluoride debate is
changing, and fast, as more Americans are becoming aware of the
known health risks of water fluoridation. City councils across the
country are beginning to give their residents a choice when
it comes to fluoridated drinking water, with many adding
fluoridation measures to upcoming ballots.
Fortunately, Americans are using their votes to keep this highly
toxic fertilizer-industry byproduct out of their drinking
water (the fluoride added to municipal water supplies is a toxic
byproduct from the fertilizer industry—a rarely discussed fact!).
Dallas is among the latest US cities considering whether or not
to renew a three-year, $1.8-million contract that provides their
drinking water with fluoride. Set to expire January 1, 2015, if
Dallas ends fluoridation, it will become the largest city in the US
to stop fluoridating its water.1
Dallas Is on the Verge of Ending Water Fluoridation
Earlier this year, in May, there was a shift in attitudes in the
Dallas city council meeting regarding water fluoridation. Despite
the fact that anti-fluoridation activist Regina Imburgia had spoken
to the Dallas city council several times before with no response, at
the May meeting three of the 15 council members finally agreed with
Imburgia's message that water fluoridation in the city deserves a
closer look.
The media picked up the story with the Dallas Observer
covering the issue at length, in both column and blog formats, not
only citing a recent concerning study about fluoride health risks
(see below) but also calling out Dallas Morning News
columnist Jacquielynn Floyd for engaging in unprofessional behavior
(like name-calling) against anti-fluoride activists.
Then, on June 11, retired chemistry professor Paul Connett,
director of the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) testified before the
Dallas council. His 3-minute (plus questions) expert testimony can
be seen in the video above (and it’s time well spent if you’re new
to the issue of water fluoridation). Dr. Connett said:
“I was impressed by the willingness of the councilors to
listen to me and to ask important questions. This augers well
because we have to beat this nonsense one open mind at a time.
I was also very impressed by the local organizers. In
addition to my testimony, with only a few days notice, they were
able to pull together a public meeting, which over 40 people
attended including 3 local dentists.
Like many other cities right now the decision to end
fluoridation in Dallas may well hinge on events happening
elsewhere, like the potential for a legal challenge to
fluoridation in Canada as outlined by a
leading
lawyer in Canada before the Peel regional council in Ontario
on June 26 and the ending of mandatory fluoridation in Israel.”
During his testimony, Dr. Connett made a strong case for why
dentistry should be done in the dental office… not via your water
supply, and as he stated, water fluoridation is "the height of
arrogance":2
"Organized dentistry, which includes the American Dental
Association, the Oral Health Division of the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention and state dental directors, is the only
health profession that seeks to deliver its services via the
public's water supply.
The practice of artificial water fluoridation is the
height of arrogance when one considers the following undisputed
facts and scientifically supported arguments."
12 Reasons Why Water Fluoridation Must Be Challenged
Dr. Connett, who co-authored the book
The Case Against Fluoride, is recognized worldwide as a
leader in the movement to eliminate
fluoride from municipal
water supplies, and I'm pleased to be working with him to achieve
this goal. He recently compiled a comprehensive and eye-opening list
of reasons why water fluoridation must be challenged. Here are some
of the highlights:3
Fluoride is not a nutrient; no biochemical process in the
human body needs fluoride |
The level of fluoride in a mother's milk is exceedingly low.
Formula-fed infants receive up to 175-250 more fluoride than
a breast-fed infant |
Once fluoride is added to the water supply, there is no way
of controlling the dose; it goes to everyone regardless of
age, weight, health, need, or nutritional status |
Fluoride accumulates in bone and other calcified tissues
over a lifetime; early symptoms of fluoride poisoning of the
bones are identical to arthritis, and fluoride accumulation
may make bones brittle and prone to fracture |
The addition of fluoride to the public water supply violates
the individual's right to informed consent to medical or
human treatment |
Fluoride is known to have toxic properties at low doses |
Children in fluoridated countries are being over-exposed to
fluoride as demonstrated by the very high prevalence of
dental fluorosis; according to the CDC, 41 percent of
American children aged 12-15 have some form of dental
fluorosis |
The effectiveness of swallowing fluoride to reduce tooth
decay has never been demonstrated by a randomized control
trial |
The evidence that fluoridation or swallowing fluoride
reduces tooth decay is very weak |
Fluoridation is designed to treat a disease (dental caries)
but has never been approved by the US Food and Drug
Administration (FDA); the FDA classifies fluoride as an
"unapproved drug" |
Most dental authorities now agree that the predominant
benefit of fluoride is topical, not systemic |
The vast majority of countries neither fluoridate their
water nor their salt, but according to the World Health
Organization, tooth decay in 12-year-olds is coming down as
fast, if not faster, in non-fluoridated countries as it is
in fluoridated countries |
Fluoride Added to List of Chemicals That Cause 'Brain Drain' (Along
with Mercury and Lead)
In 2006, researchers from Harvard School of Public Health and
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai did a systematic review and
identified five industrial chemicals as developmental
neurotoxicants. This included unquestionable poisons like lead,
methylmercury, polychlorinated biphenyls, arsenic, and toluene.
Since then, they've documented six additional developmental
neurotoxicants and have added them to the list of what are now 11
known industrial chemicals that harm brain development in human
fetuses and infants.4
One of the recently added neurotoxicants is fluoride, and one of the
study's authors has previously said:5
"Fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury, and other
poisons that cause chemical brain drain… The effect of each
toxicant may seem small, but the combined damage on a population
scale can be serious, especially because the brain power of the
next generation is crucial to all of us."
The debate over the dangers of fluoride has been ongoing for more
than six decades, despite the fact that study after study has
confirmed that fluoride is a dangerous, toxic poison that
bio-accumulates in your body while being ineffective at preventing
dental decay. So what exactly does fluoride do to your brain?
There are 37 human studies linking fairly modest fluoride
exposures with reduced intelligence (nine of these studies found
lowered IQ at less than 3 ppm in the water) and 12 human studies
linking fluoride with neurobehavioral deficits. There are also three
human studies linking fluoride exposure with impaired fetal brain
development,6
and approximately 100 animal studies linking it to brain damage.
This includes such effects as:7
Reduction in nicotinic acetylcholine receptors |
Damage to the hippocampus |
Formation of beta-amyloid plaques (the classic brain
abnormality in Alzheimer's disease) |
Reduction in lipid content |
Damage to the Purkinje cells |
Exacerbation of lesions induced by iodine deficiency |
Impaired antioxidant defense systems |
Increased uptake of aluminum |
Accumulation of fluoride in the pineal gland |
Check Out the Truth: Drinking Fluoride Doesn't Prevent Cavities
Even if you were willing to overlook the proven fact that
fluoride is a poison to the human body, would you still
want to drink fluoride if it wouldn't protect your teeth? The truth
is, it won't. Fluoride advocates often claim that the reduction in
tooth decay that's occurred since the 1950s is a benefit of
fluoridated water, but the facts just don't add up. For example, in
1999 the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) claimed
that dental caries declined precipitously during the second half of
the 20th Century.
But what they failed to mention is that tooth decay rates
"precipitously declined" in ALL Western nations, regardless of
whether or not fluoridation was used – and most of those countries
did NOT fluoridate!8 According
to World Health Organization (WHO) data, the US, which fluoridates
about two-thirds of public water supplies, actually has higher
rates of tooth decay than many countries that do not fluoridate
their water, including Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, and
Sweden.9
Furthermore, if fluoride were effective in preventing caries, you
would expect to see an increase in tooth decay when fluoridation is
stopped. Yet, this is not what we see! The following demographic
studies and fluoridation trends make it clear that fluoridation has
very little to do with whether or not you develop cavities.
- In Japan, fluoridation has been virtually nonexistent since
the 1970s, yet rates of dental caries have declined since that
time.10
- In the town of Tiel in the Netherlands, water fluoridation
was discontinued in 1973, and by 1993, rates of dental caries
had declined.11
- In the town of Kuopio, Finland, water fluoridation was
stopped after 1992. In 1995 and 1998, dental caries had either
decreased or stayed the same.12
- In two towns in former East Germany, a significant fall in
the prevalence of dental caries was seen in the 20 years
following cessation of water fluoridation.13
- In Canada, "the prevalence of caries decreased over time in
the fluoridation-ended community while remaining unchanged in
the fluoridated community."14
Fluoride Has Nothing to Do with the Underlying Causes of Tooth Decay
Dental caries are caused by demineralization of your teeth
(enamel and dentin) by the acids formed during the bacterial
fermentation of dietary sugars. Demineralization is countered by the
deposit of minerals from your saliva, or remineralization, which is
a slow process. Enthusiasts report that fluoride prevents dental
caries by enhancing mineralization. However, dental caries are not
caused by a lack of fluoride, just as depression is not caused by a
lack of Prozac. Some of the true primary causes of tooth decay cited
in the literature include:
- Consistent use of
refined sugar, sugary soft drinks, and processed foods in
general
- Children going to bed with a bottle of sweetened drink in
their mouth, or sucking at will from such a bottle during the
day
- Poor dental hygiene and poor access to and utilization of
dental health services, usually related to socioeconomic status
- Mineral deficiencies, like
magnesium, which can weaken bones and teeth15
- More than 600 medications promote tooth decay by inhibiting
saliva
It's often said that fluoride helps to re-mineralize your teeth
and make them stronger, but even this must be questioned. A
groundbreaking study published in the journal Langmuir
uncovered that the fluorapatite layer formed on your teeth from
fluoride is a mere six nanometers thick16
-- you'd need 10,000 of these layers to get the width of a
strand of your hair! Scientists now question whether this ultra-thin
layer can actually protect your enamel and provide any discernible
benefit, considering the fact that it is quickly eliminated by
simple chewing. They wrote: "…it has to be asked whether such
narrow… layers really can act as protective layers for the enamel."
More Than 100 US Communities Have Ditched Water Fluoridation
Since 2009, about 130 communities have stopped water
fluoridation. Canada has dropped from about 60 percent of the
population drinking fluoridated water down to about 32-33 percent.
Victories have also been logged in Australia, Israel, New Zealand,
and across the US. The latest fluoride-free victories include:17
- Wellington, Florida: After hours of debate
and testimony from medical experts and residents, council
members voted to end 14 years of fluoridation. A number of
pro-fluoride dentists are unfortunately working to overturn the
council's vote, but it's still a victory for now.
- Amherst County, Virginia: The Service
Authority Board voted to discontinue fluoridation because of
conflicting opinions on what constitutes "optimal" levels of
fluoride. According FAN, "Several board supervisors felt that
the additive was unnecessary and a waste of resources."
- Wood Village, Oregon: The Woodsville City
Council was considering adding fluoride to the city's drinking
water, but after polling residents found that 100% of
respondents were against it. They have since ended their
fluoridation discussions.
- Sebastopol, California: City Councilors
voted unanimously against fluoridation in Sonoma County because
of concerns the fluoride could leach into their groundwater from
surrounding communities, putting residents at risk.
- Bantry,
Ireland: Town Councilors voted unanimously in favor
of a resolution calling for an immediate end to fluoridation
throughout Ireland. Two other towns--Skibbereen and
Clonakitty--also passed similar resolutions in 2013. Support for
this historic vote was provided by the local group West Cork
Fluoride Free.
- Boyne City, Michigan: In early May 2014,
city commissioners voted 3-2 to end more than 40 years of
fluoridation for the town's approximately 4,000 residents.
Commissioner Gene Towne summed up the council's decision,
saying: "It comes down to choice. I don't see how you can
control the dosage (of fluoride that people ingest) if it's in
everything. If there's a chance that it could cause any health
problems… this should all come down to your choice."
- Buffalo and Union, Missouri: In May 2014,
Alderman voted to end a decade of fluoridation, saying the
additive damaged equipment, city trucks, and was not economical.
Also in May, councilors in Union, Missouri
voted 7-1 to end fluoridation after the city's public service
committee recommended the city not repair fluoride injection
equipment destroyed by the corrosive additive. According to the
city engineer, "It's an acid and it eats the pipes. Employees
are handling it and they don't want to be."
Do you want to add your city to this growing list? Stay
tuned, as the Fluoride Action Network has a game plan to END water
fluoridation, both in the US and Canada. Clean pure water is a
prerequisite to optimal health. Industrial chemicals, drugs, and
other toxic additives really have no place in our water supplies.
So, please, support the anti-fluoride movement by making a donation
to the
Fluoride Action Network today. You might also wish to attend
FAN’s Fifth Citizen’s Conference on Fluoride to be held in
Washington, DC Sept 5-8. I will be speaking at this on Sept 7 (for
more details contact
ellen@fluoridealert.org).
Join the Fight to Get Fluoride Out of Drinking Water
There's no doubt about it: fluoride should not be ingested.
Even scientists from the EPA's National Health and Environmental
Effects Research Laboratory have classified fluoride as a "chemical
having substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.”
Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC), 41 percent of American adolescents now have dental
fluorosis—unattractive discoloration and mottling of the teeth that
indicate overexposure to fluoride. Clearly, children are being
overexposed, and their health and development put in jeopardy.
Why?
At least when it comes to topical application, you have a choice.
You can easily buy fluoride-free toothpaste and mouthwash. But
you're stuck with whatever your community puts in the water, and
it's very difficult to filter out of your water once it's added.
Many do not have the resources or the knowledge to do so.
The only real solution is to stop the archaic practice of water
fluoridation in the first place. Fortunately, the Fluoride Action
Network has a game plan to END water fluoridation, both in the
United States and Canada. Clean pure water is a prerequisite to
optimal health. Industrial chemicals, drugs and other toxic
additives really have no place in our water supplies. So, please,
support the anti-fluoride movement by making a donation to the
Fluoride Action Network today.
Copyright 1997- 2014 Dr. Joseph Mercola. All Rights Reserved.
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