Australia - Letter from Geelong community health worker.
DAVID McRAE: Give us info and the vote
31Aug07
GEELONG has been bombarded with water fluoridation promotion by MPs, Barwon Water and Victoria's health chief Dr John Carnie. In ``Brush-off'' (GA 22/8) Carnie complains of criticism of his DHS booklet for its promotional slogans and poor science but the criticism is valid.
He is wrong to claim all authorities support fluoridation; see the recent statement to end fluoridation by 600 science professionals (www.fluorideAction.net). Nobel Prize winner for medicine (2000), Dr Arvid Carlsson, signed stating: fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology; it is really obsolete.
Dr Andrew Harms, former dental association president, signed with: water fluoridation is outdated and dangerous. Dr Harms, previously a promoter of fluoridation, is concerned that over 1000 tonnes of industrial fluoride is injected into Melbourne's water each year. The material data sheets from the supplier show that the fluorosilicic acid contains small amounts of arsenic and heavy metals. It is totally wrong to add any amount of the carcinogen arsenic to drinking water.
The 500-page report on fluoride in drinking water by the USA's National Research Council (2006), found alarming evidence of harm from fluoride at even the 1mg/L level used in fluoridation. Bones were a concern, with increased risk of bone fracture and arthritis-like skeletal fluorosis highlighted. Other health risks in the NRC report were thyroid gland and kidney impairment, and nervous system effects.
The American Dental Association last year issued warnings for parents to avoid fluoridated water for making up infant formula. Dr Carnie states that they were referring to levels much higher than in Australian fluoridation. Why does Carnie have to spin this information? The warnings are about regular fluoridation, and advise to use zero fluoride water for infants to one year. In other words, fluoridation is not safe for everybody. Carnie and friends appear more worried to protect a set-in-concrete policy than protect our health.
Does fluoridation work? According to ``Toddler dental disgrace'' ( Sunday Age , 1/7), fluoridated Melbourne has a tooth decay crisis. Australian scientist Dr Mark Diesendorf has published a number of studies showing that non-fluoridated cities and countries have reduced tooth decay equally to fluoridated ones, from the 1960s to now. Most of Europe rejects fluoridation, and their countries have among the lowest tooth decay rates in the world on World Health Organisation rankings.
Communities must make decisions on policies affecting our bodies. Fluoridation advocates like Dr Carnie and Michael Crutchfield need to publicly debate their arguments with opponents. Let people listen, then vote. Barwon Water, councillors and parliamentary representatives should join MPs like Peter Kavanagh in demanding a referendum for Geelong. As for ensuring our water supply, a pipeline from Melbourne could easily come from a Melbourne reservoir prior to fluoride injection.
David McRae is a Geelong community health worker.
31Aug07
GEELONG has been bombarded with water fluoridation promotion by MPs, Barwon Water and Victoria's health chief Dr John Carnie. In ``Brush-off'' (GA 22/8) Carnie complains of criticism of his DHS booklet for its promotional slogans and poor science but the criticism is valid.
He is wrong to claim all authorities support fluoridation; see the recent statement to end fluoridation by 600 science professionals (www.fluorideAction.net). Nobel Prize winner for medicine (2000), Dr Arvid Carlsson, signed stating: fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology; it is really obsolete.
Dr Andrew Harms, former dental association president, signed with: water fluoridation is outdated and dangerous. Dr Harms, previously a promoter of fluoridation, is concerned that over 1000 tonnes of industrial fluoride is injected into Melbourne's water each year. The material data sheets from the supplier show that the fluorosilicic acid contains small amounts of arsenic and heavy metals. It is totally wrong to add any amount of the carcinogen arsenic to drinking water.
The 500-page report on fluoride in drinking water by the USA's National Research Council (2006), found alarming evidence of harm from fluoride at even the 1mg/L level used in fluoridation. Bones were a concern, with increased risk of bone fracture and arthritis-like skeletal fluorosis highlighted. Other health risks in the NRC report were thyroid gland and kidney impairment, and nervous system effects.
The American Dental Association last year issued warnings for parents to avoid fluoridated water for making up infant formula. Dr Carnie states that they were referring to levels much higher than in Australian fluoridation. Why does Carnie have to spin this information? The warnings are about regular fluoridation, and advise to use zero fluoride water for infants to one year. In other words, fluoridation is not safe for everybody. Carnie and friends appear more worried to protect a set-in-concrete policy than protect our health.
Does fluoridation work? According to ``Toddler dental disgrace'' ( Sunday Age , 1/7), fluoridated Melbourne has a tooth decay crisis. Australian scientist Dr Mark Diesendorf has published a number of studies showing that non-fluoridated cities and countries have reduced tooth decay equally to fluoridated ones, from the 1960s to now. Most of Europe rejects fluoridation, and their countries have among the lowest tooth decay rates in the world on World Health Organisation rankings.
Communities must make decisions on policies affecting our bodies. Fluoridation advocates like Dr Carnie and Michael Crutchfield need to publicly debate their arguments with opponents. Let people listen, then vote. Barwon Water, councillors and parliamentary representatives should join MPs like Peter Kavanagh in demanding a referendum for Geelong. As for ensuring our water supply, a pipeline from Melbourne could easily come from a Melbourne reservoir prior to fluoride injection.
David McRae is a Geelong community health worker.
posted by Bill at
9:36 AM
2 Comments:
Yes they are now pushing Queensland into having fluoridated water which is in many products anyway. I think we'll overdose on it. When I've looked up material safety data sheets all the chemicals are hazardous and certainly shouldn't be drunk.
By
Anonymous, at 08 October, 2008
Barwon Water recently completed their pricing submission consultation. “From day one, it was integral to us that our customers were involved in the pricing submission, not so much us developing a price submission and then sending it out for public comment.”
Barwon Water
By
Karthik, at 26 March, 2018
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