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Cobleskill to keep fluoride out of village water
Thursday, May 22, 2008
COBLESKILL — Rejecting appeals from local dentists, doctors and county public health officials, the Village Board let stand its August decision to stop adding fluoride to drinking water, but voters may make the final decision. After three of four village trustees said their research raised concerns about the need and possible side effects of the anti-cavity additive, Mayor Mike Sellers agreed with a suggestion from local dentist Dr. Gary Surman to put the question to a public vote. “Put it on the ballot,” a disappointed Surman said as he walked out of Tuesday’s Village Board meeting. “I agree with that,” Sellers said. Sellers said he would research whether and when the question could be placed before voters. Surman was among several dentists and a doctor who participated in a committee to discuss reinstating long-standing fluoridation of the water supply. The board voted in August to stop adding flouride to municipal water after a long campaign by village Water Superintendent Jeff Pangman, a longtime opponent of fluoridation. No vote was taken Tuesday, but the consensus allowed the Aug 8, 2007, decision to stop adding fluoride to stand. The only Village Board member supporting a return to fluoridation was fluoridation committee member Mark Galasso. Galasso was not present Tuesday, but Sellers read a letter from him supporting fluoridation at the former rate of 1 part per million in water supplied to village users. “Too much of a good thing can be harmful,” Galasso stated in his letter, but he was convinced “there are significant benefits” at the 1 ppm level. Although acknowledging the apparent benefit in preventing tooth decay, Trustee Sandy MacKay, the other village official on the committee, said his research convinced him “it may have negative effects … [that] suggest the possibility of long-term deleterious effects.” Trustee William D. Gilmore Jr. said the months of dispute has even divided his household. Gilmore said he found municipal fluoridation “troubling,” while his wife, a formal dental hygienist, supported it. Gilmore contended that recent concerns have led other communities to rethink water fluoridation. He also suggested more warnings should be made about pregnant women, infants or kidney disease sufferers using fluoridated water. “Is there a need to ingest a chemical when brushing your teeth with [fluoridated] toothpaste will suffice?” said Trustee Carol McGuire. “I prefer the toothpaste." About 150 other municipal upstate systems, including New York City, add fluoride, according to the state Health Department. Many Capital Region communities, including Albany, Amsterdam and most Schoharie County public systems, do not. More than 12 million New Yorkers drink fluoridated water. Get ALL of our news...Click here to subscribe to our online edition, a complete replica of our print edition.
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July 4, 2009
12:34 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Fluoride is Damaging Kids Self-Esteem
Fluoride exposure is rising and causing children’s tooth imperfections, ranging from white spots to brownish discolorations and pitting (fluorosis), dentist Elivir Dincer reports in the New York State Dental Journal. (1)
“Such changes in the tooth’s appearance can affect the child’s self-esteem which makes early prevention that much more critical,” writes Dincer.
Children, aged 2 to 7 years, can swallow about one-quarter milligram of fluoride with every brushing because their swallowing reflexes are not fully developed, reports Dincer.
“Children from the age of 6-months to 3-years should not have more than one-quarter milligram of fluoride per day. Brushing the teeth of a 2-year-old twice a day will expose the child to about one-half milligram, exceeding the allowable [daily] limits” [from toothpaste alone], writes Dincer.
Intentionally swallowing the toothpaste which is likely, given the pleasant flavor of children’s toothpaste, increases children’s fluorosis risk, Dincer reports.
Fluoridated water, supplements, mouth rinses and/or foods add to daily fluoride intake.
Up to 48% of children have fluorosis, with 4% moderate/severe (yellow/brown teeth), reports the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2). Fluoride over-exposure at ages 22- to 25-months can discolor the permanent two front teeth while they form under the gums.
Two-thirds of US water suppliers add fluoride chemicals to reduce tooth decay. This fluoridated water is used to make many foods and beverages. (3) “Water and processed beverages (e.g., soft drinks and fruit juices) can provide approximately 75% of a person's fluoride intake,” according to the CDC. (4)
Mixing infant formula with fluoridated water (5), fluoride supplements (6) and foods with naturally higher fluoride levels, such as tea and ocean fish, independently increase risk of dental fluorosis. Fluoride-containing pesticide residues remain on various foods. Fluoride is also inhaled via ocean and shower mist and is in some medicines.
The adequate intake of fluoride from ALL sources to avoid moderate fluorosis (not mild white spots) according to the National Academies of Science (9) is
-- 0.01 mg/day for 0 to 6-month-olds
-- 0.5 mg/day for 7 through 12 months
-- 0.7 mg/day for 1 to 3-year-olds
Why isn't this information reaching the public?
In 2000, dental researcher AK Mascarenhas wrote, “There is substantial evidence that fluoridated water, fluoride supplements, infant formulas, and fluoride toothpastes are risk factors for fluorosis,” alone and together in “Risk factors for Dental Fluorosis: A review of the recent literature,” in Pediatric Dentistry, 4/22/2000.
References: http://tinyurl.com/6kqtu
1:58 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
Granted that fluoridated water exposure creates a problem of dental fluorosis in young children, this is a minor consideration compared to the elevated risk of Bone Cancer in adolescent male children as shown by the New Jersey Department of Health in their 1992 study.
This INCREASED cancer risk was again confirmed im The Journal of Epidemiology,July 2001,11(4):170-9.
Why run the risk, even if it doesn't happen to most childrem.
2:08 p.m. [ Suggest removal ]
After reading the Scientific REFERENCES concerning causes of Infant/Young Children 'fluorosis' ... we must conclude current North American so called 'fluoridation' of our drinking waters is totally endangering millions of Americans, especially INFANTS/BABIES/CHILDREN; and that the USA & States Public Health systems are probably 'Criminally Negligent'! *The DOSAGE [e.g. amount of fluoride laden water swallowed, daily] taking in by especially Pregnant Mothers, and very SMALL CHILDREN is UNCONTROLLABLE!* Read this article about Amer. Dental Assoc. and CDC [Center for Disease Control] WARNINGS to prevent Babies/Infants from getting 'fluoride':
http://www.mothering.com/sections/news_b...