Is fluoride safe for us?

We live in the desert. We need to be mindful of our water source and conserve and preserve it.

That being said, where does your drinking water come from? Tap water is safe, right?
Not necessarily. There are more than 80 "regulated" contaminants and likely many more unregulated chemicals in tap water.
In Nevada and other states where mining takes place, arsenic is in the water. At one time it was at unsafe levels in Mesquite, but our water is now being filtered such that most of the arsenic is removed.
Then there is fluoride. Fluoride is a chemical ion of the element fluorine. It is found naturally in soil, water, foods and minerals.
In fresh water its concentration averages .01 to .03 parts per million.
It is also synthesized. This synthesized fluoride is often added to drinking water, toothpaste and mouthwashes.
This synthesized fluoride was originally a byproduct of the manufacture of the atomic bomb.

Mesquite has naturally occurring fluoride at .37 ppm in its water. But that's not the only way your ingest fluoride.
You may be getting it in food and beverages processed with fluoridated water, in mechanically deboned meat, in tea and from pesticide residues on food.
Unfortunately, it builds up in the body.
Excess fluoridation can cause dentil fluorosis—discoloration and brown markings. The enamel may be rough, pitted and difficult to clean. Unsightly, but not unhealthy.

Skeletal fluorosis, on the other hand, is a bone disease that can damage bones and joints and increases the risk of fractures, the result of too much fluoride.
In severe cases, the bones may thicken, resulting in impaired joint mobility. Add to that, nausea and possible ruptures of the stomach lining and you may shy away from fluoride.
According to UNICEF, there may be tens of millions who suffer from fluorosis. The World Health Organization estimates that 2.7 million people in China alone have the crippling form of the disease.
Generally speaking, this fluoride occurs naturally in drinking water around the world.
There are growing concerns around the world about fluoride in water.
A study done by Harvard scientists found that fluoride may lower people's IQ.
According to the EPA, fluoride shows "substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity." In other words, it's best not to ingest it if you're pregnant.
The full WHO report can be found at: http://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/publications/fluoride_drinking_water_full.pdf.

In 1984, an issue of Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products lists fluoride as more poisonous than lead, but slightly less so than arsenic.
Ingested, one-one-hundredth of an ounce could kill a 10-pound baby.
Maybe toothpaste and water supplies should not be fluoridated.

Add to this the fact that in the early 20th century fluoride was used as an anti-thyroid drug to slow down the function of the thyroid in hyperthyroid patients. If your water is fluoridated and you use a toothpaste with fluoride in it, you are exposing yourself to the same levels used to inhibit your thyroid.
These are just some of the problems associated with fluoride ingestion.
I do not use toothpaste that has fluoride in it and I refuse the treatment when I have my teeth cleaned. Many dentists, in fact, are now abandoning that practice.

If you have serious concerns about your fluoride ingestion, check out http://fluoridealert.org/articles/50-reasons/ to find information and resources.
Terrie McArthur is a freelance writer, artist and interior designer who lives in Mesquite. Call her at 702-345-8714.