Floride

FAN Science Watch
March 28, 2006

Issue #28: Excerpts from NRC Report

by Michael Connett

Last week, the National Research Council (NRC) released its long-awaited review of EPAs safe water standard for fluoride (4 ppm). See: http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/epa/nrc/index.html

As reported by the media, the NRC concluded that EPAs safety standard for fluoride is not safe and should be lowered. According to the NRC, EPAs safe standard (4 ppm) puts a person at increased risk for both tooth and bone damage (severe dental fluorosis and bone fracture).

While most of the press coverage so far has focused on NRCs concerns with teeth and bone, there are many other serious concerns expressed in the NRC report.

To give readers an indication of the other concerns expressed by the NRC, we have reproduced a series of excerpts from the report (see below).

The excerpts detail the various systems in the body (e.g. nervous, endocrine, and immune) that fluoride may damage, and how these effects may be enhanced or mediated through fluorides interactive/synergistic effects with other compounds (e.g. iodine deficiencies and aluminum overload).

When one couples the multitude of serious health concerns expressed by NRC, with their uncertainties on what the various safe vs. toxic doses are, it should cause a great deal of concern.

Here, for example, are what two of the NRC panel members Dr. Kathleen Thiessen and Dr. Robert Isaacson had to say about the relevance of NRCs report to the water fluoridation program (see: http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=34527 ) However, some of the research that is validated by the report suggests that water-fluoridation levels advocated by Hamilton and Ferre may be unhealthy, two members of the NAS panel said in interviews with the Portland Tribune.
NAS panel member Kathy Thiessen, a former senior scientist at Oak Ridge National Laboratory who has studied fluoride for the EPA, said the report showed the potential is there that water fluoridation is unhealthy. As for the studies finding that higher levels damage childrens IQ, she said its possible water fluoridation levels may have a similar, albeit reduced effect. She said in her personal opinion the research suggests most people should minimize their fluoride intake which includes avoiding fluoridated water.
I think you can look at most chapters of this report and say, Whoa, she said. We have made major strides from previous (looks) at this topic.
NAS panel member Robert Isaacson, a distinguished professor of neurobehavioral science at the State University of New York in Binghamton, agreed, saying that the possible effects on endocrines and hormones from water-fluoridation are something that I wouldnt want to happen to me if I had any say in the matter.

The report should be a wake-up call, he added.

For more information, and news articles, on NRCs review, see: http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/epa/nrc/index.html


As a response to the unhealthy tapwater water report, I was considering digging a well in the courtyard of my condo, but unfortunately I'm too tired from CFS and Candida to dig it...and additionally the groundwater , I'm told, is contaminated as is the nearby river that flows through my city. Alternatively I considered going out and purchasing Poland Spring brand bottled water... but weren't they accused a year or so back of having poor quality water in spite of their marketing campaign of having crystal pure water? Lastly I heard recently that water supplies in developing countries are running low, so people are taking to capturing rainwater for their supply... but with the smog in my part of this city, I think that could be poisonous as well. Time to move to Antartica and melt some ancient ice flows.


Polly, do you have any idea how effective water filters are that are supposed to filter flouride from the water? I drink tea like it's going out of style (about 5 cups a day)and probably would be better off reducing my flouride intake. Thanks.


I don't know how effective those filters are. I do know that people on the autism list use bath balls to remove fluoride and other contaminants from the bath water. One woman reported that, even though she had been using a bath ball to clean the water, when she moved to an unfluoridated area, her child improved. That may mean that it takes more than just a casual scrubbing to get the fluoride levels down --- or perhaps there were some other contaminants in the water.

Dr. Lee's tea for health ---- they test for fluoride in their tea. (Tea takes up fluoride from the soil --- also pesticides on tea often contain fluoride.)