USA - Letter -Fluoridation of drinking water is unsafe practice

Your article states, "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends a maximum level of about one part per million" (of fluoride in drinking water). The EPA is only authorized by law to determine levels of chemicals in drinking water that protect public health.Unfortunately, they continue to allow the Public Health Service, the historic promoter of fluoridation, to influence their standard-setting process so water fluoridation is not threatened. The standard is conveniently four times higher than the level used in water fluoridation (1 ppm). This standard is at least 40 times higher than an honest assessment of the scientific literature would allow.It will be interesting to see if the new study deals honestly with the health effects conveniently ignored by EPA: chipping and fracturing of teeth and an arthritic condition resulting from the calcification of ligaments and tendons.
The entire preparation of the fluoride standard for drinking water was unethical, and is documented in a paper I co-authored with J. William Hirzy of EPA and delivered at the 1998 annual meeting of the National Association of Environmental Professionals.

Robert J. Carton, Averill Park, N.Y.