Warning - do not give fluoridated tap water to babies!

New evidence (2001) fluoridation causes bone cancer in young males

Click here for a more in-depth discussion of the case against fluoridation.

The majority of continental European governments have accepted that there is insufficient evidence that fluoridation is safe. The York Review (2000) found no proof of safety.

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), a traditionally pro-fluoride body, acknowledged in 2002 that the silicofluorides predominantly used for fluoridation today have never been tested for human health safety.

Since the Public Health Commission reports in 1994 and 1995, considerable independent research into fluoride has been conducted. This research has confirmed the claims of adverse health effects, which have been advanced by opponents of fluoridation since its inception, and revealed further dangers to health.

1995: Dr Phyllis Mullinex demonstrates central nervous system damage in rats at the same blood-fluoride levels as that observed in humans drinking fluoridated water.

1997: Jennifer Luke, UK, demonstrates accumulation of up to 22,000ppm fluoride in the pineal gland. This is followed in 2001 by proof that this inhibits production of the hormone melatonin.

Accumulation in other soft tissue, though denied by promoters of fluoridation, has been shown since the 1950's, for example in the aorta.

Approximately 10% of laboratory animals show retinal damage from normal levels of fluoriode exposure.

1998: Varner et al show that aluminium-fluoride complexes cause Alzheimer's-like damage to the brain.

2002: Strunecka et al show that aluminium-fluoride complexes cause disruption to G-protein metabolism, relating to cell-triggering mechanisms. One of these G-proteins is present in 50% of human cancers.

Aluminium is added to water supplies to clarify the water. Exposure may also result from soft drink and beer cans.

1999: Drs Masters and Coplan demonstrate an increased uptake in lead with the silicofluorides now used in water fluoridation, as opposed to the sodium fluoride used originally. At first dismissed by the EPA this is later accepted and in part leads to the EPA's change of position in 2002. Lead is found in the exposed solder joints of metal food cans and if there is no plastic lining inside the can, food can interact with these joints.

The silicofluorides used are toxic waste, not pharmaceutical or food-grade additives, and are contaminated with an undisclosed amount of heavy metals such as lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium.

If fluoridated water is used for baby milk formula, it results in fluoride intake 80 times greater than the normal intake from breast milk. Swedish research also shows that the small quantity of fluoride ingested with breast milk can be excreted by babies and does not accumulate.

1943: Journal of the American Medical Association description of fluoride:

"Fluorides are general protoplasmic poisons, with the capacity to modify cell metabolism, changing the permeability of the cell membrane by inhibiting certain enzymes. Sources of fluoride intoxication include drinking water containing 1ppm or more of fluorine."

In 1966 the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned fluoride tablets for pregnant women, because of evidence of fluoride causing birth deformities. One tablet is the same amount of fluoride that would likely be consumed in a day through drinking fluoridated water.

In 1977 Dr Albert Schatz, Nobel laureate in medicine, showed that the underprivileged (hence undernourished) had higher death rates when drinking fluoridated water.

Proven increase in osteosarcomas in adolescent males.

50% of ingested fluoride is stored in the bones. A lifetime of exposure can lead to skeletal fluorosis, with similar initial symptoms to arthritis. Arthritis incidence has increased markedly in recent years and may in fact be misdiagnosed skeletal fluorosis as acknowledged by World Health Organisation (WHO - see below). Dental fluorosis has increased markedly since fluoridation was introduced. This is the first sign of fluoride poisoning and a precursor to (unseen) skeletal fluorosis. Treatment for dental fluorosis in the US and Canada is currently more expensive than treating tooth decay.

In 1970 the World Health Organisation published the following:

"At higher levels of ingestion - from 2 to 8 mg daily, skeletal fluorosis may arise ... Whereas dental fluorosis is easily recognised, the skeletal involvement is not clinically obvious until the advanced stage of crippling fluorosis ... early cases may be misdiagnosed as rheumatoid or osteoarthritis.”

- Fluorides and Human Health, 1970 pages 239-240

Note that 2 mg per day is the amount New Zealanders ingest if their water is fluoridated, given the dietary background amount of 1 mg per day and assuming consumption of 1 litre of water per day.