Last year, 11 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employee unions, representing over 7,000 environmental and public health professionals, called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country. I wrote a two-part commentary exploring the evidence that inspired the letter these professionals sent to the U.S. Congress.
According to The Washington Post, in March of this year America’s National Academy of Sciences (NAS) issued a report concluding that the current allowable level of fluoride in tap water “is not protective of the public health and should be lowered.” The committee called on EPA leadership to re-evaluate current safety standards. This report by our nation’s most prestigious organization of scientists has added a great deal of credibility to the concerns expressed by the EPA unions last year.
The NAS report, “Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of the EPA’s Standards,” cited serious concerns about dental fluorosis, increases in bone fractures and stiffness in the joints of the elderly, possible links to Alzheimer’s disease, reduction in thyroid production, reduction of endocrine and hormonal levels that control many functions of the human body, and a possible link to a rare form of bone cancer among other health risks.
Dr. Hardy Limeback, one of the 12 scientists who served on the National Academy of Sciences panel, reported, “In my opinion, the evidence that fluoridation is more harmful than beneficial is now overwhelming and policy makers who avoid thoroughly reviewing recent data before introducing new fluoridation schemes do so at risk of future litigation.” Dr. Limeback is head of the preventive dentistry program at the University of Toronto.
Another panel member, Dr. Robert Isaacson, professor of neurobehavioral science at the State University of New York in Binghamton, said the report should be a wake-up call.
The report was critical of communities which fluoridate at the maximum allowable amount of exposure, 4 ppm (parts per million), but also concluded that those living in communities where water fluoridation is at 2 ppm (the majority of Americans) may also be overexposed due to secondary sources of fluoridation.
An NAS press release stated, “Most exposure to fluoride in the United States results from consumption of water and water-based beverages, but dental products, food, and other sources contribute as well. Highly exposed sub-populations include individuals who have high concentrations of fluoride in their drinking water or who drink more water than the average person because of exercise, outdoor work, or a medical condition. Relative to their body weight, infants and young children are exposed to three to four times as much fluoride as adults.
“Children also may use more toothpaste than is advised or swallow it, and many receive fluoride treatments from their dentists. Fluoride accumulates in bone over time, so groups likely to have increased bone fluoride concentrations include the elderly and people with severe renal deficiency who have trouble excreting fluoride in their urine.”
The very idea of using drinking water as a vehicle for forced medication is, in my opinion, unjustifiable under the American Constitution. I’m not the only one who feels this way. Scientists have been speaking out on the matter for years.
Dr. Charles Gordon Heyd, Past President of the American Medical Association, has said, “I am appalled at the prospect of using water as a vehicle for drugs. Fluoride is a corrosive poison that will produce serious effects on a long range basis. Any attempt to use water this way is deplorable.”
Nobel Prize winners in Chemistry and Medicine to express opposition to fluoridation include James Sumner, Guilio Natta, Nikolai Semenov, Sir Cyril Norman Hinshelwood, Arvid Carlsson, Hugo Theorell, Walter Rudolph Hess, Sir Robert Robinson, Artturi Virtanen, Adolf Butendandt, Corneille Jean-Francois Heymans, William P. Murphy, and Hans von Euler-Chelpin.
Some notable opponents to fluoridation include: Dr. J. William Hirzy (senior vice-president at the EPA), Dr. William Marcus (Office of Drinking Water’s chief toxicologist at the EPA), Dr. Albert Burgstahler (Harvard graduate and professor of organic chemistry at the University of Kansas), Dr. David Kennedy (former president of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology), Dr. Lennart Krook (professor emeritus of toxicology at Cornell University Department of Veterinary Medicine), Dr. Roger Masters (professor emeritus of government at Dartmouth College), Dr. Jennifer Luke of Caries Research, Dr. Phyllis Mullenix (formerly of Harvard University’s Forsyth Research Institute), Dr. John Colquhoun of New Zealand, Dr. Philip Sutton (author of “The Greatest Fraud: Fluoridation”), Dr. Paul Connett (professor of chemistry at St. Lawrence University), Richard Shames M.D. (formerly of the National Institute of Health), and Dr. Dean Burk (chief chemist at the U.S. National Cancer Institute).
More information can be found on Second Look’s Web page (www.slweb.org), Fluoride Alert (www.fluoridealert.org), and No Fluoride (www.nofluoride.com). Sources of fluoride-free bottled water include Evian and Perrier. Special filters can be purchased to remove fluoride from tap water.
Terre Haute should join the growing number of cities that have removed this threat to public health. Do it now.
Pete Chalos, a longtime teacher, coach and public servant in Vigo County, was mayor of Terre Haute for 16 years. Send e-mail to pchalos@netscape.com.
Pete Chalos
May 31, 2006
Pete Chalos: Fluoridation removal should be on local agenda
- Pete Chalos
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- Pete Chalos: Fluoridation removal should be on local agenda Last year, 11 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) employee unions, representing over 7,000 environmental and public health professionals, called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs across the country. I wrote a two-part commentary exploring the evidence that inspired the letter these professionals sent to the U.S. Congress.
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Pete Chalos: Traditional family unit has served America well
Much has been said concerning the institution of marriage this past few years. Elements of our society have been trying their best to redefine marriage. Every American tradition associated with raising a family has been questioned by some group or another. Some feel the rules concerning marriage and family have changed because our society has taken progressive leaps beyond any society the world has ever known. Others feel we are losing touch with the time-tested wisdom of our fathers and the tradition this great nation was founded upon.
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Pete Chalos: Never too soon to pay attention to 2008 election
The next presidential election is already a hot topic of discussion in the press and we aren’t even close to the election year yet. Everyone is interested in finding out which candidate will have an edge come 2008.
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Pete Chalos: Community needs leadership from best and brightest
What does it take to win an election? Last week, we saw the climax of months of hard work and well-organized campaigning. Some candidates had been preparing to run for several months or even a few years. Spouses, children, family, friends and colleagues had been organizing, recruiting and promoting before most voters were even aware an election was coming up. It takes a lot of time and effort and a great deal of commitment to win an election.
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Pete Chalos: A community must invest in itself to improve itself
This month, the Terre Haute City Council voted in favor of the proposed tax increment finance (TIF) district on Indiana 46, passing it 6-3. Council members Jim Chalos, Rich Dunkin, Chuck Miles, Todd Nation, Shelva Warner and Cliff Lambert voted for the resolution.
This evening, the Vigo County Redevelopment Commission is going to conduct a public hearing concerning the details of the resolution, outlining the specifics. Upon their confirmation, the resolution will go back to the Terre Haute City Council for adoption on May 11. -
Pete Chalos: In Iraq, we must get job done, then get out
You can call it what you want to call it but what is happening right now in the country of Iraq is a civil war. Fancy words like “insurgency” aren’t fooling anyone. You’ve got two sides fighting over the fate of a country. That is a civil war.
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Pete Chalos: America must maintain high standards of immigration
My father John Chalos arrived from Greece at Ellis Island in 1910 for the purpose of working in Seattle. He ended up losing his ticket while the train was stopped in Terre Haute.
- Pete Chalos: Your vote counts in numerous and hidden ways
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Pete Chalos: State has moved too quickly on Major Moves initiative
The reason the government builds fire stations, roads, sidewalks and parks is to accommodate the general public. No single private citizen can afford to build all of these facilities on his own so we all chip in and pay taxes. As a result, we all end up benefiting from the use of the facilities. Government facilities are built for the public and they belong to the public. That’s the basic premise of a tax-supported Democratic society. Government by the people and for the people.
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Pete Chalos: City’s leaders, citizens must be willing to support progress
We live in an extremely competitive society. From early childhood, we are taught the difference between winning and losing. In some families, more time is spent learning the difference between winning and losing than the difference between right and wrong.
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Pete Chalos: The future of elderly care in America
This past month, my family and I have been reviewing all available options for the future care of me and my wife Ulla. At 78 years old, I am finding that I can no longer take care of myself and my wife the way I once could. In truth, it’s been quite a while since I’ve been able to do so on my own, but learning to accept and admit it has been a difficult process.
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Pete Chalos: China poised to become next big economic, military power
“If the Americans draw their missiles and position-guided ammunition onto the target zone on China’s territory, I think we will have to respond with nuclear weapons. … If the Americans are determined to interfere, we will be determined to respond. … We Chinese will prepare ourselves for the destruction of all of the cities east of Xian. Of course, the Americans will have to be prepared that hundreds of cities will be destroyed by the Chinese.”
This statement was made a few months ago to members of the press by General Zhu Chenghu of the People’s Liberation Army, also a professor at China’s National Defense University, concerning U.S. opposition to China’s threats to invade Taiwan. -
Pete Chalos: Women’s basketball flourishing in the Valley
This month, the ISU women’s basketball team recorded its 18th straight win. The victory also marked the milestone 100th career win for ISU women’s head coach Jim Wiedie. He and Edith Godleski are the only two women’s basketball coaches to achieve that mark in ISU history. Local golf enthusiasts may remember Edith from her impressive record in local golf tournaments.
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Pete Chalos: Lack of opportunity raises concerns for future
Over the years, I have been invited to speak to numerous service groups, church groups and political organizations within the community of Terre Haute. After sharing a few of my own thoughts and ideas, I always take the opportunity to answer questions from the crowd. I look forward to these question and answer sessions. In fact, it’s my favorite part of the meeting.
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Pete Chalos: Diligent oversight of utilities an important mission
At the end of January, ExxonMobil Corp. revealed record-breaking profits, the highest quarterly profits ever reported by a public company in the history of America. Exxon’s annual profit was $36.13 billion. That’s a 42 percent rise since last year.
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Pete Chalos: Major Moves plan could be major disaster for Indiana
The governor is at it again. First, he closed down license branches in rural areas, forcing many Indiana citizens to take a day off from work and drive long distances in order to get anything done concerning their license or picture identification (which he made a requirement for voter registration). Then he established an Inspector General to act as his own personal prosecutor (along with a staff of lawyers in every Indiana county). Then he crammed his plan for daylight-saving time down our throats.
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Pete Chalos: Use baseball classic to unite us, not further divide us
No sound is more exciting than the crack of a baseball bat hitting the ball. It’s quite an experience to watch your favorite team score that winning run in the bottom of the ninth or pull off a double-play to ensure their victory. The crowd roars and stands to its feet.
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Pete Chalos: This nation needs purpose, trusted leaders to show the way
Just like individuals, nations need goals. In the 29th chapter of the book of Proverbs it is written, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” In the absence of a unified sense of purpose, progress is replaced with unrest. Like any nation, America needs a national vision, a national direction and national goals.
- Don’t get duped, be skeptical and ask smart questions
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