Letter: The perils of fluoride

Sodium fluoride is a compound often used in the process of fluoridating water. The following is taken directly from the Material Data Safety Sheet (MSDS) for sodium fluoride (http://tinyurl.com/fluorideperils):

“Routes of Entry: Ingestion.

“Chronic Effects on Humans:

“…Mutagenic for mammalian somatic cells. Mutagenic for bacteria and/or yeast. May cause damage to the following organs: kidneys, lungs, the nervous system, heart, gastrointestinal tract, cardiovascular system, bones, teeth.

“Other Toxic Effects on Humans:

“Hazardous in case of skin contact (irritant), of eye contact (corrosive), of ingestion, of inhalation. Slightly hazardous in case of skin contact (corrosive).

“Special Remarks on Toxicity to Animals:

“Lowest Published Lethal Dose: LDL [Human] — Route: Oral; Dose: 71 mg/kg LDL [Woman] — Route: Oral; Dose: 90 mg/kg LDL [Woman]

“Special Remarks on Chronic Effects on Humans:

“May cause adverse reproductive effects (fertility, fetoxicity), and birth defects based on animal data. May cause cancer based on animal data. May cause genetic (mutagenic) and tumorigenic effects.”

I’m not a doctor or a dentist, but I can read. There are other fluoride compounds used in water fluoridation, I challenge everybody to look up the MSDS information on these compounds if the topic of water fluoridation concerns you. Fluoride may have some beneficial dental effects if applied topically at safe levels, but putting it into a public water supply for mass, unmeasured consumption seems like a bad idea. I think there are many safer and more economical ways to keep our teeth in good health.