New York – September 24, 2007 - There is clear evidence that small
amounts of fluoride, at or near levels added to U.S. water supplies, present
potential risks to the thyroid gland, according to the National Research
Council’s (NRC) first-ever published review of the fluoride/thyroid
literature.(A)
Fluoride, in the form of silicofluorides, injected into 2/3 of U.S.
public water supplies, ostensibly to reduce tooth decay, was never
safety-tested.(B)
“Many Americans are exposed to fluoride in the ranges associated with
thyroid effects, especially for people with iodine deficiency,” says Kathleen
Thiessen, PhD, co-author of the government-sponsored NRC report. “The recent
decline in iodine intake in the U.S could contribute to increased toxicity of
fluoride for some individuals,” says Thiessen.
“A low level of thyroid hormone can increase the risk of cardiac disease,
high cholesterol, depression and, in pregnant woman, decreased intelligence of
offspring,” said Thiessen.(C)
Common thyroid symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, constipation, fuzzy
thinking, low blood pressure, fluid retention, depression, body pain, slow
reflexes, and more. It’s estimated that 59 million Americans have thyroid
conditions.(D)
Robert Carton,
PhD, an environmental scientist who worked for over 30 years for the
U.S. government including managing
risk assessments on high priority toxic chemicals, says “fluoride has
detrimental effects on the thyroid gland of healthy males at 3.5 mg a day. With
iodine deficiency, the effect level drops to 0.7 milligrams/day for an average
male.”(E) (1.0 mg/L fluoride is in most water supplies)
Among many others, the NRC Report cites human
studies which show
- fluoride concentrations in thyroids exceeding
that found in other soft tissues
except
kidney
- an association between endemic goiter and
fluoride exposure or enamel fluorosis in
human
populations
- fluoride adversely affects thyroid and
parathyroid hormones, which affect bone
health
“If you have a thyroid problem, avoiding fluoride may be a good
preventive health measure for you,” writes Drs’ Richard and Karilee Shames in
“Thyroid Power.”(F).
Over, 900 Physicians, Dentists, Scientists, Academics and
Environmentalists urge Congress to stop water fluoridation until Congressional
hearings are conducted. They cite new scientific evidence that fluoridation is
ineffective and has serious health risks. (http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html)
Please sign the petition and Congressional letter to support these
professionals http://www.FluorideAction.Net
“Fluoride can harm bones, teeth, kidneys, the brain and more,” says
lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to
Fluoridation.
References:
(A)
"Fluoride in Drinking
Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's Standards," Committee on Fluoride in
Drinking Water, Board on Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Division on Earth
and Life Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies of
Science. March 2006 Chapter 8
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11571
"Thyroid Function: Fluoride
exposure in humans is associated with elevated TSH concentrations, increased
goiter prevalence, and altered T4 and T3 concentrations." (Page
262)
"(The thyroid effects are
associated with average fluoride intakes that) will be reached by persons with
average exposures at fluoride concentrations of 1-4 mg/L in drinking water,
especially the children." (Page 260)
(B) Sodium Hexafluorosilicate and Fluorosilicic
Acid
Review
of Toxicological Literature, October 2001
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/Chem_Background/ExSumPDF/Fluorosilicates.pdf
(C) Chemical & Engineering News,
“Fluoride Risks Are Still A Challenge,” by Bette Hileman, September 4, 2006,
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/84/8436gov1.html
(D) Mary Shomon, About.com Thyroid editor, Patient
Advocate -- Author of "The Thyroid Diet" and "Living Well
With Hypothyroidism"
http://thyroid.about.com/
(E) Fluoride,
“Review of the 2006 National Research Council Report: Fluoride in Drinking
Water,” July-September 2006, by Robert J. Carton
http://www.fluorideresearch.org/393/files/FJ2006_v39_n3_p163-172.pdf
Fluoride/Thyroid Health Effects
http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/thyroid/
Sources of Fluoride
http://www.fluoridealert.org/f-sources.htm
Sulfuryl Fluoride Pesticide Residues Allowed on Foods
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/sulfuryl.f.all.food.html
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National
Fluoride Database of Selected Beverages
and Foods
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Fluoride/Fluoride.html
