Fluoride Consumption May Not be Safe

Fluoride is a man-made element that derives from fluorine. According to the declassified documents of the Manhattan Project, the U.S. military group which built the atomic bomb, fluoride was the main chemical utilized during the atomic bomb production. Tremendous quantities of the element were necessary for manufacturing bomb-grade uranium as well as plutonium for nuclear weapons throughout the Cold War.

Recognized as one of the most toxic chemicals in the world, the declassified documents distinguished fluoride as the principal chemical health hazard of the U.S. atomic bomb program, both for workers and for neighboring communities.

Scientists from the atomic bomb program later provided evidence demonstrating that fluoride can be safe for humans in low doses, after being secretly ordered to provide original proof useful in litigation against defense contractors for fluoride injury to individuals. The declassified documents also showed that the first lawsuits against the U.S. atomic bomb program were in fact not over radiation but over fluoride damage.

How Safe is Fluoride?

Fluoride continues to be identified as one of the most toxic man-made substances today, yet it can be found in our toothpastes, bottled water and infant formulas. Even vitamin supplements now contain fluoride. Additionally, fluoride compounds are being purposely added to water in many areas of the United States, a process known as fluoridation.

The practice of water fluoridation has been banned in various countries, including: China, Austria, Belgium, Finland, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, Hungary and Japan. Nearly all of Europe's water supply is fluoride-free. In 2002, approximately 90 percent of the United States population was supplied water through public water systems where about 67 percent of that percentage received fluoridated water.

Fluoride is also added in a majority of toothpaste brands to help prevent tooth decay. Despite being used in toothpaste, fluoride has never been proven to considerably help protect teeth from developing cavities. Material Safety Data Sheets, abbreviated as MSDS, generally label sodium fluoride as a substance which is toxic by ingestion, inhalation and through skin contact, requiring that personal protection equipment for handling it should include safety goggles and gloves. Fluoride is more toxic than lead while being only slightly less poisonous than arsenic. Keep in mind that fluoride is utilized in many of the popular dental care products you use to brush and rinse your teeth on a daily basis.

The Dangers of Fluoride Consumption

The Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, classifies fluoride as a drug because, unlike minerals like calcium and magnesium that we need, humans have no physiological requirements for fluoride. Research studies have shown that fluoride can affect the body's normal production of hormones, can cause bones to become weaker and it's been referred to as a neurotoxin, meaning its toxic to the nerves.

Sodium fluoride, which has long been known as an effective poison for cockroaches, is added to drops and tablets for the purpose of preventing tooth decay. However, because fluoride has been previously identified as a toxic element, fluoride supplements cannot be purchased over-the-counter, they can only be distributed with a prescription supervised by a healthcare professional. Ultimately, sodium fluoride is not a nutritional supplement, it's a prescription drug and one that shouldn't be taken lightly. The FDA has never approved fluoride as either safe or effective.

Fluoride drugs have been prescribed for over 50 years but because the FDA has not approved these products as safe and/or effective, the agency called on various manufacturers to cease selling fluoride drops and tablets immediately. Removing the harmful substance from the market will help ensure the health of millions of individuals is protected, however, there's still a bigger issue the U.S needs to address: water fluoridation.

Water Fluoridation and ADHD

A recent research study, entitled: "Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association," published in the journal Environmental Health, discussed the association between water fluoridation and ADHD in the United States.

Fluoride Disrupts Endocrine Function

FAN's Science Director, Chris Neurath stated, “Scientific and medical research stretching back to the 1920's has demonstrated that fluoride can affect the thyroid. The levels of fluoride exposure known to lower thyroid function overlap with the levels of exposure known to occur in some people drinking artificially fluoridated water."

Hypothyroidism is a very common medical disorder in the United States and it can develop severe adverse health effects. Decreased thyroid function in pregnant women has been linked to reduced IQ in their children. Furthermore, growing evidence suggests that fluoride, at levels within that of which individuals utilize and consume, has been associated with lowered IQ. Fluoride's effect on thyroid function could affect this reduction in IQ.

Fluoride as a Neurotoxin

Over 100 animal experiments have connected the consumption and exposure of fluoride to a reduction in IQ. Approximately 31 out of 33 of the animal experiments which investigated the behavior of the tested animals also concluded that fluoride caused learning and memory issues in the subjects while 43 out of 50 of the people studied demonstrated that modest levels of fluoride negatively affected IQ.

About 27 of these studies were recently reviewed by a team from Harvard School of Public Health. Of these, 26 displayed a decrease in IQ, about a drop of 7 points while the average fluoride level in the water for 20 of the studies was only 3.52 ppm, lower than the current safe drinking standard in the United States for fluoride of 4.0 ppm.

Department of Health & Human Services Admits to Overexposing Americans to Fluoride

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, abbreviated as HHS, acknowledged that the fluoride levels which they once reassured were safe to use, is actually damaging children's teeth. A major increase in dental fluorosis, characterized as white spotted, yellow, brown and/or pitted teeth, found in 41 percent of teenagers lead the Department of Health & Human Services to conclude that water fluoride levels should be lowered to 0.7 mg/L from the average 1 mg/L utilized in most communities. In about 10 years, the HHS will check children's teeth to determine if the new level should be implemented.

Fluoride Causes Disease

In the 1970's, Austrian researchers demonstrated that a concentration of as little as 1 ppm of fluoride could interrupt the proper function and structure of DNA repair enzymes by up to 50 percent. If DNA is unable to efficiently repair damaged cells, our tissues can begin to degenerate faster.

Fluoride causes the body to age prematurely due to the alteration in the enzyme's shape. When an enzyme becomes ultimately distorted or twisted out of shape, it becomes incapable of performing its job. This in turn results in collagen breakdown, eczema, tissue damage, skin winkling, genetic damage and immune suppression. Basically, any type of disease imaginable can occur due to this distortion.

Potential Results of Consuming Fluorides

• Acute Poisoning
• Birth Defects
• ADHD
• Impaired Brain Development
• Osteoarthritis
• Bone & Uterine Cancer
• Thyroid Disease
• Perinatal Death
• Immune System Suppression
• Gastrointestinal Disorders
• Essential enzyme inhibition
• Lowered IQ (especially in young children)
• Skeletal Fluorosis (leading to brittle teeth and bones)

Fluoride And Osteoporosis

Former science director of the National Health Federation, Dr. Yiamouyiannis, cited a study from the 1990's where roughly 541,000 osteoporosis cases concluded the definite link between hip fractures in women over 65 years of age and fluoride levels. A wide variety of research studies have concluded that fluoridation is indeed associated with osteoporosis and hip fractures in older adults.

The process of bone construction is complicated and finely balanced. Since the 1930's, fluoride was recognized as a main threat in the disruption of this essential process. Dr. Alesen, former president of the California Medical Associated explained what fluoride does to bone formation. He cited dozens of international scientific studies proving that fluoride has caused osteoporosis, skeletal thinning, fractures, rubber bones, anemia and rickets.

Fluoride also causes osteoporosis by creating a calcium deficiency in the body. Fluoride precipitates calcium out of solution, causing low blood calcium as well as resulting in the development of calcium stones and crystals in the joints and organs.

Testing for Fluoride Levels in the Body

In a medical laboratory, technicians are capable of measuring blood levels for the amount of calcium and potassium. Both hypocalcaemia, meaning there's very little amounts of calcium in the body and hyperkalemia, meaning there's too much potassium in the body, can indicate that a person has consumed or has been exposed to excess amounts of fluoride.

References:

Fluoride Action Network. Dental Fluorosis.

Schellenberg D, Marks TA, Metzler CM, Oostveen JA, Morey MJ. Lack of effect of fluoride on reproductive performance and development in Shetland sheepdogs. Vet Hum Toxicol. 1990 Aug;32(4):309-14. Erratum in: Vet Hum Toxicol 1990 Dec;32(6):527.

Fluoride Action Network. Gastrointestinal.

Martijn W. H. Pinkse, Maarten Merkx, Bruce A. Averill. Fluoride Inhibition of Bovine Spleen Purple Acid Phosphatase: Characterization of a Ternary Enzyme?Phosphate?Fluoride Complex as a Model for the Active Enzyme?Substrate?Hydroxide Complex. Biochemistry. 1999 July 20. 38 (31), pp 9926–9936 DOI: 10.1021/bi990446w

Michael Connett, Tara Blank PhD. Fluoride & Intelligence: The 36 Studies. Fluoride Action Network. 2012 December 9.

Fluoride Action Network. Water Fluoridation.

National Institutes of Health, Endocrine Disruptors

FAN Study Tracker, Thyroid Health

Neurotoxicology and Teratology Jan-Feb 2015: 47; 96-101

Chemical Brain Drain

Fluoride Does Not Prevent Cavities

It's essential that we no longer continue ignoring the amounting research studies and evidence regarding the dangers of fluoride consumption and exposure. Unfortunately, not only is fluoride found in our drinking water, it can also be found in reconstituted/dehydrated foods, foods cooked in Teflon pans, baby formulas and even in anesthetics.

In order to avoid fluoride exposure and consumption from your home water supply, invest in a good water filtration system to help properly cleanse your drinking water. Brita and Pur pitchers do not filter out fluoride, however, there are many affordable systems that will. The AquaSana system is a common system used for drinking water and whole house filtration. Also remember, your skin is the largest organ of your body. When you shower, your pores open up and act like a sponge, taking in chemicals from the water, including chloride and fluoride, both which can also lead to cancer.

If your budget doesn’t allow for a whole house water filtration system, don’t worry. You can pick up an inexpensive shower filter which can range from $40 to $50. It simply screws on to your shower head and it does a great job filtering out chlorine, fluorine and other harmful chemicals.

Don't Use Toothpaste with Fluoride

And finally, make sure you switch your brand of toothpaste to one that doesn’t contain fluoride. Herbal Choice Mari Natural Tooth Gel doesn't contain fluoride. Another brand which doesn't contain fluoride is Dr. Brite Whitening Mineral Toothpaste. When it comes to your own body's overall health and wellness, it's up to you to take action to improve your well-being and eliminate your consumption and exposure of these dangerous substances.

By Dr. Alex Jimenez