More than 200 million Americans drink water treated with fluoride at the EPA
A COLUMN by Frederick Sinclair
Judge Edward Chen of the US District Court of the Northern District of California just released a decision which may impact the practice of water fluoridation in the U.S. The federal judges’ 80 page ruling, in the historic lawsuit that lasted 7 years, resolved action against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) taken by the Fluoride Action Network, Moms Against Fluoridation along with Food and Water Watch as well as parents and children. The Toxic Substances Control Act (TCA) allows citizens to petition and challenge use of chemicals that may ‘present unreasonable risk’ to public health. The EPA simply denied validity of the initial citizen petition filed, at which point the citizens were entitled to judicial review.
Chen’s ruling weighed EPA’s review process, levels of exposure authorized and health impact assessment, against extensive scientific data and published reports presented by the citizens groups challenging the EPA findings. “ EPA’s expert agrees that fluoride is hazardous at some level.” said the judge and he further cited a report from the US Department of Health and Human Services NTP (National Toxicology Program). The report: “concluded that fluoride is indeed associated with reduced IQ in children at or above 1.5 mg/L, and the NTP report further stated that “although there are technical challenges to measuring effects at lower levels, scientists have observed a statistically significant association between fluoride and adverse effects in children even at such lower exposure levels,” as cited in the decision by Judge Chen.
Children’s Health Defense author Brenda Baletti, Ph.D. sums it up and wrote in the September 25th Defender “ The US EPA can no longer ignore the risk and must take regulatory action.” More than 200 million Americans drink water treated with fluoride at the EPA assumed ‘optimal’ level of 0.7 milligrams per liter mg/L. However, Judge Chen has ruled that “a preponderance of the scientific evidence shows this level of fluoride exposure may damage human health, particularly that of pregnant mothers and young children.” Fluoride proponents, water system managers and health officials continue to resist re-examination of fluoridation health impacts despite mounting scientific evidence. Top researchers, government agencies and now the federal court ruling, are clearly indicating that along with fluoridation of water come neurotoxicity risks, particularly for the developing brain of an infant.
In light of the credible research and published reporting of the dangers in fluoridation of public water supplies, it is inconceivable that the U.S.federal government has increased fluoride funding and NYS has proudly announced increased funding for fluoridation of local municipal water supplies. There are many local rural systems that do not fluoridate and if we, the users of public water, make time to examine the issues and voice informed opinions , maybe you and your neighbors can keep fluoridation from occurring. For those currently on fluoridated systems, look at the issue carefully and offer your informed opinion to your mayor and water system operator, provide them the reason to stop. There are whole house filtration systems that can remove fluorine and and other contaminants from your water supply. Health professionals are currently advising mothers not to use fluoridated water in preparing baby formula. Be sure to follow the instructions on the tube and call the poison control center if your child swallows fluoridated toothpaste.
For more complete information, regarding fluoride in your drinking water, go to https://fluoridealert.org
