Australia - New legal advice puts council fluoridation programs on shaky ground

Tim Robertson SC, who specialises in environmental and constitutional law, warns fluoridation is prohibited without approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

"Supply of fluoridated water is in breach of the [Therapeutic Goods] Act, until fluoridated water is registered … or excluded from the Act," Mr Robertson wrote in a report to the Port Macquarie Hastings Council, on the NSW Mid North Coast...............................

Key points:

• A prominent lawyer says fluoridation is prohibited without approval from the Therapeutic Goods Administration
• Medical experts say water fluoridation programs are safe and reduce tooth decay
• Residents who have strong misgivings about the use of fluoride may be able to use the legal advice for their claims

Canada - High fluoride concentration found in Ridgetown's water

A high-concentration of fluoride has been found in Ridgetown's municipal water supply.

Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Colby reports the level of naturally occurring fluoride in the municipal water supply has been found to be above the Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) of 1.5 parts per million.

Health officials say small children whose permanent teeth are not yet formed and who are drinking water with fluoride levels above 1.5 parts per million may develop dental fluorosis. Dental fluorosis causes the formation of white spots, or mottling, on the teeth....................

Canada - Natural fluoride levels in Ridgetown water supply exceed acceptable levels

Flouride levels exceeded 1.5 parts per million 

Ridgetown residents have been warned about the level of naturally occurring fluoride in the community's water supply.

According to Chatham-Kent officials, Ridgetown's water supply was found to contain levels of naturally occurring fluoride above 1.5 parts per million — the maximum allowable concentration.

"Small children, whose permanent teeth are not yet formed and who are drinking water with fluoride levels above 1.5 parts per million may develop dental fluorosis," wrote Chatham-Kent officials in a media release.

Officials did not mention when the testing took place. 
Individuals who rely on well water in the Ridgetown rural area should also get their water supply analyzed to determine its fluoride level. 

Officials recommend that parents of small children use non-fluoridated toothpaste on growing teeth, as well as to avoid using mouthwash or mouth rinses that contain fluoride .

Parents should also use non-fluoridated, bottled water for drinking, cooking and mixing 100 per cent frozen fruit juices. 

Scottish Parliament Dental treatment

Joe FitzPatrick Scottish National Party

Two points were made about the BDA. One was on workforce, which I will come to shortly, and the other was on prevention. Prevention is an area where we are having substantial success across Scotland. The childsmile programme is making a real difference. It helps to make sure that children know how to brush their teeth properly and provides fluoride varnish applications. We will be announcing the next stage of that under the community challenge fund of the oral health improvement plan, and we will be announcing which projects will be taken forward that are aimed at reducing further the oral health inequalities among children.

On the other area, a challenge that we no longer have is people being unable to access an NHS dentist—very few people cannot access one. When this Government took over in 2007, huge numbers of people were unable to access an NHS dentist, and we have managed to turn that around. Sometimes, it is important to acknowledge progress where it has been made, so we should thank our dental colleagues for rising to the challenge and making sure that people can, in the first place, access NHS dental practices.

Last week, I had a chat with the BDA, and one of the challenging areas is the shortage of anaesthetic consultants, which leads to a number of the waiting times figures. Even there, since 2006, we have increased the numbers of anaesthetic consultants by 41.7 per cent—moving from 549 up to 778.

I am in no way suggesting that everything is rosy. I accept that some of the waits and more challenging cases are unacceptable, particularly when we are talking about children, who are often in pain. We need to continue to do better around that. We are making a difference, and the waiting times improvement plan is designed to make it even better

Do Dentists Let Their Kids Eat Candy? That Depends.

Little ones get invited to birthday parties almost every month, which means that I, also get invited to birthday parties almost every month. While she enjoys the games, I catch up with the adults and enjoy the plethora of treats on offer. Because I’m a dentist, the conversation often steers toward cavities, fillings, dental experiences and dental expenses. At least once, I’m asked, “Katelyn doesn’t have any cavities in her teeth, does she? Is this because you don’t let her eat any treats? Share your dentist secrets!!”

Sorry to disappoint.

There are no secret short-cuts to keeping cavities away. The basics of regular toothbrushing, flossing and eating healthy are still the gold standards for good oral health. 

Even healthy foods, like fresh fruits, grains and breads, can result in dental cavities if residuals are left in the mouth for long. Although research suggests that when compared to added sugars or free sugars, natural sugars in fresh fruits, breads and grains do not contribute significantly to the development of dental decay. However, natural sugars are still sugars. 

It is also worth considering that carbohydrates, including starch, break down to glucose – a basic sugar, that not only fuels our bodies and minds but also fuel the cavity-causing germs in our mouth to produce acids that destroy our teeth. We even have enzymes in our saliva (they are called “amylases”) to kickstart the carbohydrate breakdown process.

It’s true, Katelyn doesn’t have dental cavities to date, but it’s not because we are ultra-disciplined with treats. We have a strict daily regimen of flossing and toothbrushing with fluoride toothpaste. This routine happens morning and night regardless of moods, tantrums, and tiredness.If she falls asleep, the toothbrush still goes in and toothbrushing is still done. When she was little, her father and I did her toothbrushing and flossing for her. Now that she’s older, we help only at night.

The aim is for good oral hygiene practices to become second nature. Early establishment of desirable oral hygiene habits have been shown to provide long-term protective effects against oral problems such as tooth decay.

As for treats? Most children enjoy treats! I enjoy treats! I’ve not seen consistent success in preventing cavities by forbidding treats. It takes way too much discipline to totally eradicate treats from our pantries, probably more so than regular toothbrushing and flossing. When it comes to food and drinks, a balanced diet for overall health and well-being, remains key.

Don’t Forget, it’s not Just Sugars That are Bad for Teeth

Acid-loving-acid-producing germs cause dental decay, which when allowed to progress over time, becomes a dental cavity as teeth structures are destroyed. Even acids alone, without cavity-causing germs, can be destructive to teeth structures and result in dental erosion. When both dental erosion

and dental decay occur in the same mouth, destruction of teeth structures may occur more quickly, resulting in bigger, deeper cavities and toothaches. The problems become exponentially worse when residual foods, sugars and/or acids are allowed to stay on the surfaces of teeth for extended periods of time. Sticky foods and drinks are especially difficult to clear completely from the mouth.

Sweet + Sour + Sticky = Sick Sad Teeth

Treat temptations aren’t going to disappear anytime soon, but certain types of treats are worth avoiding if possible. When it comes to choosing treats, my family avoids treats that are of the “3 S” category – treats that are SWEET and SOUR and STICKY, because “sweet + sour + sticky = sick sad teeth”.  For example, we try to stay away from juices, dried fruits, toffees, candies and carbonated drinks.

Avoid Frequent Treats

Cavities are also more likely to form when our teeth are “attacked” by frequent eating and drinking. Every time we eat and drink, the oral environment becomes acidic (oral pH decreases) which put our tooth structures at risk of destruction. The saliva in our mouth helps to balance the oral pHback to “happy neutral mode”. If the oral pH does not get to recover in time for the next “attack”, irreversible destruction of the tooth structures becomes more likely. For this reason, in my family, we try to have treats all once rather than having treats throughout the day. Avoiding treats just before bed might also be helpful since when we sleep, there is less saliva to protect our teeth.

Drink Water

We also make sure we drink plenty of water after food, regardless of it being treats or healthy foods, with the aim of clearing some of the residuals away from our teeth and mouth. If drinks other than water are consumed, a drinking straw

is used if at all possible and swishing avoided, to reduce contact with teeth surfaces. (I even drink my latte through a straw, hilarious as that may seem.)

Start Prevention Early

Science has proven that taste preferences are developed in the early years of life.  In order to limit “sweet tooth” tendencies during “taste training,” we kept foods as natural as possible in the first 3 years of Katelyn’s life. In addition to taste development, the bacteria in our mouths (oral flora) are also establishing themselves in these early years.  We did not share utensils, foods, or drinks with Katelyn when she was young to limit her exposure to the acid-loving-acid-producing decay-causing bacteria that could establish itself early in Katelyn’s mouth. These microscopic nasties are transferred by saliva. The earlier the decay-causing bacteria is permanently established, the higher the risks of dental decay for life.

Educate and Motivate – Help Children Make Good Lifestyle Choices

As a mom, I’ve also come to realize, that educating children to make the right choices is much more beneficial than setting rules (particularly, the “don’ts”) that they must follow. This applies to many aspects of growing up and learning including, treats and oral hygiene practices. 

When Katelyn came home with her first jelly beans (as a reward from her teacher for being good in class), the thoughts of “why can’t these be stickers?” and “if this kid gets a tooth decay from regular jelly beans rewarded in class, who is going to pay the dental fees?” crossed my mind. I was happy that Katelyn chose not to eat the jelly beans and brought them home just to “show and tell”.I was thankful that something from our many chats about nasty germs, 3 “S” foods and drinks, hurt teeth, actually stuck with her and made enough impact for her not to succumb to the exciting new world of jelly beans.

Helping our children make good lifestyle choices from an early age, have lifelong benefits.

Fluoride spills prompts emergency callout to Dunedin water plant

UK - Row over fluoride

LOOKING BACK: Row over fluoride in water supplies, statue's clean up and Fusiliers' parade
By Brad Marshall

A ROW has broken out between the councils of Bury and Tottington over whether water supplies should be treated with fluoride.

Tottington Council has launched a protest over the issue as it wants fluoride but says it cannot have it because of Bury's opposition.

The council claims Bury is the only one of eight authorities in the Bolton Waterworks sub area not willing to have its water supplies treated.

Consequently it has written to its Bury counterpart asking the council to reconsider its decision.

Bury's Health Committee is however recommending that the ban should stay.

The committee decided in April 1963 that fluoride should be added to to the town's drinking water to combat dental troubles among young children.

This was then supported by the town council.

However, just two years later the council threw out its fluoride plan following an anti-fluoride campaign by the now Mayor of Bury, Councillor Earnest Cockayne.

This decision meant that neighbouring areas whose water supply comes through the same pipes could not have fluoride.

Besides Tottington, these areas include Haslingden, Rawtenstall, Ramsbottom, Little Lever and parts of Radcliffe and Whitefield.

Nonetheless, even if Bury reversed its decision it is unlikely that the whole of Tottington will have fluoride as part of the area is supplied from Bolton which has also voted against the treatment in a town referendum.

Have your teeth been affected?

In 2001 the government funded independent York University review of water fluoridation identified high levels, 44 per cent, of dental fluorosis in fluoridated areas of the UK.

Incurable dental fluorosis is the only visible indicator of over exposure to high levels of fluoride in the body and is indicated by mottling on the surface of the adult teeth. This can be white patches or flecks ranging through to a distinctive brown discolouration. No long term research has been undertaken into adverse impacts on the rest of the body of swallowing excess fluoride at a young age.

Fluoride Free Cumbria would be interested in hearing from anyone, adults and children, who have grown up in west Cumbria since the late 1960s, when water fluoridation started, and believes their teeth have been damaged by excess fluoride.

Currently Cumbria County Council authorise and support the fluoridation of just west Cumbria in the county and only 10 per cent of Britain is fluoridated and only three per cent of Europe. In fact most of the rest of the world doesn’t fluoridate.

Fluoride Free Cumbria can be contacted on: 01900 393811 or at Cumbrianhealthconcerns@gmail.com.

Paul Carr

from Ann Wills

Mail on Sunday 23.6.19  “STILL THE NHS ISN’T WARNING BOWEL CANCER PATIENTS THAT THEIR CHEMO CAN KILL THEM”  by David Rose.

Lynn Stevens was diagnosed with bowel cancer last year.  Tests revealed it was at an early stage & hadn’t spread.  After successful surgery this year, she appeared to be  clear.  But ‘just to be safe’, doctors at Worcestershire Royal Hospital, advised chemotherapy to wipe out any cancerous cells that might linger. They said it was a ‘belt & braces’ approach to slightly increase her chances of long-term survival.  So in March, Lynn had her first & only dose of intravenous fluorouracil, a (fluoride)drug prescribed  to 1,000s of patients.  4 weeks later she died aged just 66 - not from cancer but poisoned by the drug.  Her husband Chris said “Her last weeks were agony. Her entire digestive tract was burnt, as if by acid.  No one warned us this might happen, yet her death was avoidable.”   Like some 1 in 20 people in UK, Lynn’s body didn’t produce DPD liver enzyme.  Normally this causes no ill-effects, but its absence makes fluorouracil (5FU) & the tablet form capecitabine,potentially lethal to cancer patients.  Their bodies can’t excrete the toxic drugs which stay in the body, wreaking havoc.   There’s a simple blood test costing just £60 for DPD deficiency in some NHS areas, but chemo patients are often not told of it, nor warned of the chemo risk.   There have been almost 1,600 reported cases of serious adverse consequences due to fluorouracil & capecitabine poisoning since 2000.  303 patients died.  But staff involved appear unaware of the dangers.  3 days after the chemo, Lynn couldn’t eat because of the burns & could not swallow cold water.  But no-one seemed to recognise the symptoms.  It wasn’t until about 14 days later that she saw a professor who suggested it was probably caused by the chemo & DPD deficiency.   Lynn died less than a month after her first chemo.  Her husband said  “I don’t want the cause of her death to be recorded as cancer, but extreme chemotherapy toxicity, because that is what killed her.”   The NHS promised Mail on Sunday that a letter telling hospitals to warn patients would be sent out & that a warning card would be ready by the end of 2018.  This has not happened.  When NHS England was quizzed last week, it said it was up to individual hospitals.  The NHS admitted there may be no specific warning given to patients.

Ann

From Ann Wills

D. Mail 22.6.19  “TAINTED BLOOD WAS MASS MURDER - I’LL DIE BEFORE I SEE JUSTICE”  by Ben Spencer, Medical Correspondent.

A victim of the contaminated blood scandal will die before he sees justice, the public inquiry heard yesterday.  Peter Burney, 60, one of 7,500 people infected after receiving NHS blood, said he found out this week that he will die within 2 years, if not before.  In a statement to the Infected Blood Inquiry, he accused the Dept of Health of committing “mass murder” & then covering it up.  Referring to the Dept of Health he added  “(You are) a bunch of lying, murdering criminals who have stood by & watched a victim die every 96 hours, without any kind of remorse, knowing that many of these victims are dying in poverty & leaving 1,000s of affected families in poverty, & having to rely on the means-tested handouts from the very people who covered up this mass murder - the Dept of Health.”   Mr Burney from Manchester, has been married for 40 years & had to give up work due to ill-health caused by the infected blood.   He said one of the hardest things about being given a terminal diagnosis this week was having to break the news to his 3 grandchildren.  The inquiry also heard from Ann Dorricott, whose husband Mike Dorricott died aged 47, in 2015 because of the NHS infected blood he was given.

He said before he died “I won’t be there for my wife & 2 daughters.  I won’t get to walk them down the aisle…  My wife will be on her own. We have had years of pain & anguish as a result of the actions taken by previous governments.”

Ann

Philly 'narrowly dodged a catastrophe’ as deadly chemical wasn’t released in refinery fire

“Philadelphia and surrounding communities appear to have narrowly dodged a catastrophe this morning,” Joseph Otis Minott, executive director of the Clean Air Council, said in a letter calling for the CSB to investigate.

PES said three explosions “impacted” a unit that produces alkylate, used to boost gasoline octane. The refinery complex has two alkylation units, and the unit that was involved in the conflagration uses hydrogen fluoride — also known as hydrofluoric acid — as a catalyst. A 2009 release of just 22 pounds of the chemical at the South Philadelphia refinery sent 13 contract workers to the hospital......

From Joy Warren of ‘West Midlands Against Fluoridation

From Joy Warren of ‘West Midlands Against Fluoridation’, which she asked me to circulate, as it contains a very important point about water fluoridation ‘not being compatible with UK law.’    Sorry if this is a duplicate for some.   Best wishes, Ann.

-

19^th June 2019

Dear Friends

WMAF finally ‘bit the bullet’ a couple of months back and retained a solicitor to examine the law permitting WF.   The solicitor’s conclusion is that WF is not compatible with UK law.

Here is the information you need to quote to anyone you talk to on the subject:

The Water Industry Act 1991, s.87 states that only two compounds of fluorine are permitted to be added to water in order to raise the level of fluoride to 1mg fluoride/litre when a water company is required to fluoridate its treated water.  These compounds are H₂SiF₆  and Na₂SiF₆

On page 7 of BSEN 12175:2013 at para. 4.3, two impurities present in the fluoridating acid, hexafluorosilicic acid, are listed: 

Phosphate pentoxide which is present as 0.75% max. 

and

Hydrofluoric acid described as free hydrogen fluoride as HF which is present as 1.5% max.

On page 19, Annex A,  para. A.2.3, we see that water companies add a typical dose of 6.3mg of hexafluorosilicic acid to achieve a final concentration of 1mg F/litre .

In the same Annex,  para. A.2.1, it is stated that hexafluorosilicic acid is used for the fluoridation of drinking water to increase the resistance of consumers to dental decay.  (The long arm of the MHRA has failed to see this claim even though the agency has been reasonably successful at preventing water companies admitting this medicinal purpose.)  This statement contradicts the misleading title of the BSEN: “Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption: hexafluorosilicic acid”. 

 Hydrofluoric acid (Hydrogen fluoride) is a compound of fluorine but since it is not listed in the WIA 1991, s.87, it is not permitted.  Therefore its presence is not compatible with the law, thus making it unsound to use hexafluorosilicic acid as the agent for adding fluoride to drinking water.  Note that I cannot say that it is illegal at this stage because we think that a judge’s ruling is required before we can state this. 

Hydrofluoric acid is an impurity in the fluoridating acid.  Impurities, when added to something, e.g. water, render that something impure.  If our drinking water is impure, it is not potable.  The DWI would appear to be failing in its duty of care.  (This argument can be strengthened because phosphate pentoxide is also an impurity.)

Hydrofluoric acid is listed as a reportable poison in the Deregulation Act 2015, Schedule 21, Part 4.  No maximum dose or concentration appears next to the entry.

Hydrofluoric acid and hexafluorosilicic acid are not permissible additives to food in EU Reg. 1170/2009, Annex III.  However, sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride are permitted because they are used for milk- and salt fluoridation respectively.

Hydrofluoric acid is not a chemical parameter.  Consequently, the DWI does not insist that it is analysed as it comes out of the point of compliance (the kitchen tap).  The main criterion for our purposes is that of HF being added to drinking water.  In fact it does not matter if the HF dissociates in the mains: it’s the act of adding it which is the important point.  However, even if HF dissociates in the mains, it is more likely to be present in an acidic environment and would reform de novo in the stomach.

HF is present in drinking water at the Water Treatment Works at a maximum concentration of 0.0945 mg fluoride/litre.  (1.5% of 6.3mg H₂SiF₆)  The concentration of HF as the water leaves the WTW depends on the background concentration of fluoride before hexafluorosilicic acid is added.  Let’s assume, however, that if there is very little fluoride in the treated water prior to release to the mains, there would be approximately 19 mg HF and potential HF in your bath water should you fill the bath with 200 litres of hot water. (0.0945 x 200 = 18.9mg HF).  

HF is absorbable through the skin.  Dr Viktor Gorlitzer von Mundy in Austria in the 1930s established that a dilute solution of HF added to bath water at blood heat cured his patients who had hyperthyroidism.  Perhaps this is the reason why there is so much hypothyroidism in fluoridated regions of England since continual exposure to HF will tip the body over into a low thyroid condition, particularly in the absence of iodide.

West Midlands Against Fluoridation has spent £792 for solicitor’s advice and our funds are almost wiped out.  I am appealing to you all to make a donation to WMAF to replenish our funds so that at least we can continue to travel to the threatened North East where 6 local authorities are exploring WF at the prompting of Public Health England.  It’s imperative that the North East does not become 100% fluoridated because Sheffield is also exploring WF and after that it will be the turn of Greater Manchester.  Up until now, we have successfully challenged attempts by Local Authorities to go out to Public Consultation and this strategy has worked, and long may it do so, but the North East is proving a hard nut to crack.

If we are to be successful, then we all need to pull together.  WMAF  (and UKFFFA) hope that you are willing to contribute.

Here are the details for making a donation to WMAF:

There is a donation button on the home page of the West Midlands Against Fluoridation website. www.wmaf.org.uk/landing.php  and Enter site. Scroll down to the area where the stork and frog cartoon appears and click on the Donation button.

Alternatively, please send a cheque payable to West Midlands Against Fluoridation to:

 Joy Warren

Coordinator, West Midlands Against Fluoridation

154 Stonebury Avenue

Eastern Green

Coventry

CV5 7NX

As an alternative to writing a cheque and paying postage, it is fine to do a BACS transfer using the following bank account details

Bank Account is in the name of West Midlands Against Fluoridation WMAF

Account No: 65461943

Sort Code: 089299

Bank: Cooperative Bank

Thanks to all of you in anticipation.

Joy

--------------------------

Joy Warren, BSc. (Hons) Environmental Science; Certificate in Health and Nutrition

Joint Coordinator, UK Freedom From Fluoride Alliance

Coordinator, West Midlands Against Fluoridation

www.ukfffa.org.uk;  www.wmaf.org.uk

Tel: 02476 467562          Mob: 07741482823

Fluoride Pros and Cons: Is Fluoride Safe?

The use of fluoride is controversial—it's a known toxin, but we've also been told it's essential for healthy teeth. Fluoride can sometimes be beneficial, but with safer alternatives available, it's just not worth the risk.

Updated on June 14, 2019 

MARK BURHENNE, DDS

FREE TALK -THE FLUORIDE CONTROVERSY: WHY IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL CALGARIANS

DATE AND TIME

Sun, 23 June 2019

3:30 PM – 4:30 PM MDT

LOCATION

The Light Cellar

6531 Bowness Road Northwest

Calgary, AB T3B 0E5

Canada

View Map

DESCRIPTION

Calgary Council is reviewing Water Fluoridation. Join Dr. Dickson as he explains the ins and outs of this topic to help you be informed.

F.A.N. Newsletter

Where will the next fluoridation accident or overfeed occur?  Will it be your town or city?  Will the fluoridation chemical eat through its containment tank and dissolve a hole in the treatment plant’s concrete floor or asphalt loading area, escaping into nearby rivers or groundwater?  How many water employees and first responders will have to be rushed to the hospital?  Will a mechanical or human error cause fluoride levels to increase above 100ppm in your drinking water, corroding the piping, leaching lead and copper into the system, making residents sick and causing long-term health complications?  Will city officials hide the accident for days, weeks, or even months, putting their political interests before public safety?

These are questions every single resident living in a fluoridated community ought to be asking, because another accident or overfeed will happen, and continue to happen until we end this practice.

Before we get to news of the most recent overfeed, here is a quick update on our fundraiser for the lawsuit that could end this unnecessary and constant threat to the health and safety of water department workers, truckers, railway employees, first responders, and citizens around the world. 

In under 30-days, we have raised $61,650 from 278 donors.  With the current pledge to double donations included, this brings our total to $123,301 on our way to raising $200,000 by July 15th.  Thank you to all who have contributed, and remember that all donations are tax-deductible.

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How to make a tax-deductible donation to FAN:

• Online at our secure server.
  
• Or by Check, payable to the Fluoride Action Network. Send your check to:
  
  Fluoride Action Network
  c/o Connett
  104 Walnut Street
  Binghamton NY 13905  

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The Latest Fluoridation Overfeed

City and Water Department officials in Newport, Rhode Island are planning to notify residents of a fluoridation chemical overfeed in their water bills more than a month after it occurred, and only because there is a “mandate to inform the public” from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Reports have yet to explain what caused the overfeed, but we do know that on May 4th alarms went off at the water treatment plant indicating elevated fluoride levels.  Operators reported levels as high as at least 2.16 mg/L entering the water supply, three times higher than usual.  It isn’t clear if operators tested the fluoride levels immediately following the overfeed or hours later, once it was given time to dissipate.  Local officials also do not appear to be investigating if any of the typical adverse reactions, such as vomiting or gastrointestinal issues, were experienced by residents. 

Newport joins over 50 other communities since 2010 that have had a fluoridation related accident or overfeed. 

Investigation Reports on Franklin and Sandy Overfeeds Made Public

As residents of Newport are just starting to learn what happened to their drinking water, investigations into two other major overfeeds that occurred over the past year are wrapping up and the results have been published.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environment has released a Consent Decree and Agreement on the violations surrounding the overfeed in the City of Franklin that increased fluoride levels at least 14 times higher than the usual level, between 12.6 mg/L and 25 mg/L.  Lab tests also showed that levels remained elevated in some parts of the city days after the incident.  Residents reported green/blue water from copper and metal corrosion, as well as a metallic taste.  The water was tainted for at least 24-hours without public notice, but some reports suggest elevated levels could have occurred seven days earlier when the first customers complained about discolored water.

The state fined Franklin $25,000 for the fluoride-level violations, which led to the water director surrendering his operator's certification and paying a personal fine of $2,500.  Just like with Newport, officials in Franklin appear to have failed to investigate adverse reactions to the dangerously elevated fluoride and metal content in the drinking water.

See full Franklin Timeline & News Coverage 

A state-mandated investigation and report has been conducted and released on the massive fluoridation overfeed that occurred in February in Sandy, Utah, on the outskirts of Salt Lake City.  It reported that 1,500 households, schools, and businesses were impacted when undiluted hydrofluorosilicic acid containing arsenic, lead, copper, manganese, iron, and aluminum entered the drinking water supply sickening 239 people, including children.  Seperately, Utah Poison Control handled 316 cases they believe were linked to the incident.  A water sample taken two days after the overfeed, but not provided to the state 18 days later, showed a fluoride level of 151.5 mg/L.

A second investigative report has just been made public, which appears to show that the Utility Director and Deputy Mayor were actively working to supress media coverage instead of notifying the public during the critical hours ater the overfeed.  This investigation was conducted by an independent law firm at the request of the Mayor and Council, and focused on the cause and the actions of the city and utilities employees before, during, and after the incident.  

Read the full report 

Stay tuned, as FAN will continue to track accidents and overfeeds, as well as provide further updates and analysis on the Sandy, Utah fluoridation investigations and the local campaign to end the practice.

• Learn more about fluoridation chemicals.
  
• See list of fluoridation-related accidents and overfeeds since 2010.
  
• Read a study on contaminants found in fluoridation chemicals.
  
• Read the FAN report on leaching of lead and other metals. 
  

Thank you,

Stuart Cooper
Campaign Director
Fluoride Action Network

Australia - Letter | We're concerned about Roundup, so why not fluoride?

IT is interesting to note that there is a hazardous chemical (Roundup) receiving international press, and Australia is responsibly embracing a worldwide movement by proposing banning this toxic substance that, reports say, is harmful to humans, animals, soil and the environment. 

In general, glyphosate is the culprit and it leaves open to debate the subject of all of toxic waste.

This urgent response in Australia has been affected by publicised legal proceedings in America, with Bayer-Monsanto having lost a recent lawsuit.

READ ALSO:

Oberon Council meeting approves fluoride addition

Attempt to reverse fluoride move proves unsuccessful

Letter | Fluoride vote's been taken. It's time to move on

In Australia, it is commendable that some wise councillors are choosing to be accountable. 

One wonders when will the same address the outdated law of fluoridation of drinking water in Australia? 

Why has fluoride been allowed to prevail in the name of tooth decay prevention when there are other obvious modern choices? 

One day, people will forget the marketing spin that currently promotes these products, namely: fluoride is "natural" and Roundup is a "herb"-icide. That day can't come soon enough.

Rosy Ward

Why is Hong Kong still putting fluoride in its water supply?

Unidentified Protesters march against the use of fluoride in drinking water in San Francisco. 

The Marchers believe that fluoride causes health problems.

Why is it some people in Hong Kong leap onto their high horse when they discover monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been added to their lunch noodles but don't cause a ripple when they learn their domestic water supply is treated with a toxic chemical?

Since 1961, domestic water in Hong Kong has been fluoridated to prevent tooth decay. But studies have since linked fluoride in water to all sorts of things, from lower IQ in children to infertility.

Most developed nations don't fluoridate their water (in Western Europe only 3 per cent of the population consumes fluoride with their H2O) and the World Health Organisation says there is no discernible difference in the levels of tooth decay between developed countries that do and those that do not. The decline in tooth decay the United States has experienced over the past 60 years, which is often attributed to fluoridated water, has been matched in all developed countries.

So how can the Hong Kong government continue to add fluoride if there is doubt over its safety?

Local health adviser Anita Cheung Shuk-kwan thinks water fluoridation is an archaic practice: "There is compelling evidence that exposure to fluoride during the early stage of life can damage children's brains. One needs to ask: why force infants who have no teeth to take fluoride? … If someone wants fluoride they can get it from their dentist, or from fluoridated oral-care products. There is no need to put a drug in the public drinking water without public consent … Low-income families can't afford equipment to remove fluoride [most home water-treatment systems can't completely remove it anyway]."

So to those officials in control of the city's taps, instead of mass medicating Hong Kong people via the water supply, why not improve dental care by encouraging proper brushing and flossing or, even better, by removing sugary drinks and snacks from school canteens?