Fed (up) with poison!

This writer hopes that children, from teenagers upwards, read these articles and proceed to familiarize themselves with the ongoing research. The new developments in research, tests and testing equipment as well as the development of new fields in science are fascinating. Very soon scientists will be able to follow metabolic processes “live”. This may be for short periods because a human being cannot be tied to an experiment for days let alone months and years; but science will develop alternatives – as it has been done with living cells. These are fields of study that are extremely edifying and productive as careers.

To return to the situation with regard to toxins in our food, water and the environment, it must be admitted that it is very hazardous and complex too.

Hazardous because current research shows their highly disruptive effects on health even when the exposure is in concentrations of just parts per million or parts per billion in some cases. Do you realize or can you visualize what this very high dilution or very low concentration is? One part per billion is one cup of a substance diluted in one billion cups or 250 ml in 250 million liters. Doesn’t it give you goosepimples? If the substance was dyed blood red, the diluted solution will not show any color. It does not require an education in rocket science to realize how anatomic processes, seriously disrupted several times a day, can result in cumulative effects and lead to chronic disease. The simplest and the most commonly understood process is the oxidative damage leading to cell damage, alteration of DNA function and ultimate mutations that result in cancerous tumors.

Complex because there are many chemicals now in common use in foods, beverages, cosmetics, cleaning products, cooking utensils etc. Almost all of them have not been tested adequately for safety. They never will be. Their use is not regulated or may be regulated only after a serious public health episode. The extent of use of these chemicals is in the hands of the people who put them in the products they produce and promote with misleading slogans. Their only interest is their profit; that drives the deceptive claims of efficacy, effectiveness and safety for their products. These claims are supposed to be based on science, but real science, independent science, exposes the hollowness of, and the self-interest in, these claims. It is not too off the mark to state that these claims are based on ignorance and self-interest and the supporting science they refer to belong to the Jurassic period. This happened in Sri Lanka in regard to the herbicide RoundUp/Glyphosate.

The only practical and effective way consumers can fight back against these health hazards is through informing themselves and taking appropriate decisions such as avoiding products that they deem could be hazardous to health. Let it be your choice. Litigation is meaningless because the consumer can lose too much in time, money and loss of productive work. If litigation becomes necessary, it might be best handed over to a suitable organisation.

Fluoridation of water has been abandoned in most developing countries because there is no proof that fluoride prevents the formation of dental cavities. Ninety seven percent of Western European countries do not fluoridate water, Date compiled by the World Health Organization show that nations that do not fluoridate show the exact same reduction in dental cavities as the U.S. where fluoridation is widespread. Other countries resorting to fluoridation are Australia, New Zealand and a few other countries. This information is for Sri Lankans resident in those countries as well for Sri Lankans in the North Central Province. It is hoped that they will stop drinking water from wells and that they will be so advised clearly by every type of media.

“Estimation of the amount of fluoride ingested from all environmental and dietary sources is important so that rational and scientifically sound decisions can be made when guidelines for the use of fluorides are reviewed periodically and modified.” (Journal of Dental Research 1992)

Fluoride is an industrial compound. It is classified as a drug too; as such it should be subject to prescription. But it is freely added by non-medical people to water in a “one dose fits all” scenario. As such, adults, children and even infants are equally exposed to it. This is even though relatively new science shows that developing brains and bodies are adversely affected. This is a clear pointer to the uncertainty connected to the use of fluoride. Likewise, the conclusion of a 2015 study of fluoride exposure from water, toothpaste, foods and fluoride “supplements” was “It’s doubtful that parents or clinicians could adequately track children’s fluoride intake and compare it to the recommended level, rendering the concept of an “optimal” or target intake relatively moot.”

Fluoride is both an Endocrine Disruptor and a Neurotoxin

Fluoride — like many other poisons — was originally declared safe based on dosage. Now we know that fluoride is an endocrine disruptor and a neurotoxin. It affects the body and brain – especially developing bodies and brains.

Children who are fed infant formula mixed with fluoridated water receive very high doses, and may be affected for life due to this early exposure. Knowledge of how it does so is very important for parents and mothers-to-be. Powdered milk for infants should not be dissolved in fluoridated water and drinks imported from fluoridating countries should not be given to toddlers. Not taking such care could expose a child to a hundred times the so-called safe fluoride exposure.

Fluoride is a neurotoxin for developing brains. It impacts short-term and working memory, and lowers IQ in children. It has been implicated as a contributing factor in the rising rates of ADHD (Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder). Research has linked severe dental fluorosis in children with impaired cognition and lower IQ.

Mothers-to-be should be aware that fluoride can cross the placenta and affect the fetus, as a neurotoxin, as an endocrine disruptor and in bone formation.

Fluoride and cavity prevention

Does fluoride prevent dental cavities? Modern science raises a lot of uncertainties about this belief. The real effect seems to be far lower than the officially touted level of 25% effectiveness. Actually, three studies have led to the conclusion that water fluoridation does not reduce cavities to a statistically significant degree in permanent teeth. High exposure causes fluorosis.

This does not affect us but what about fluoridated toothpaste? That could affect us. We use it twice a day in an area covered by very soft tissue – tissue that can be readily penetrated by chemicals. We accidentally swallow some toothpaste too. If fluoride is banned by the USFDA for some uses how has the USFDA permitted its use in toothpaste? This is an incomprehensible situation.

Parents who develop qualms about using fluoridated toothpaste could use ayurvedic preparations or home-made ones, or even toothpaste without fluoride.

Note that sesame oil hardens gums and a kind of arecanut, dried and ground, is used in ayurvedic preparations as a medicinal and abrasive component. However, children will dislike it.

Note also that toothpastes may contain one or more of three other chemical poisons – triclosan, parabens and sodium lauryl sulphate not to mention anti-bacterials, coloring matter and thickeners.

Fluoride in drugs and anesthetics

There are several fluoride containing organic drugs. These include Prozac and Paxil, both of which are used for psychiatric disorders. Both medications work as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). They essentially increase the amount of serotonin in the brain to exert antidepressant effects. This is another intervention aimed at the middle of a process – not at the root cause. Some scientists wonder whether the drugs damage the pineal gland because fluorides do that.

Organic here means a compound with a chain of carbon atoms. It is surmised that these are safe drugs as the carbon-fluoride bond is strong enough to prevent breaking to form a fluoride ion, as would an inorganic fluoride compound. At the same time it is admitted that there are organic fluorides that do ionize. As such, here too there is uncertainty about the safety of fluorides.

The drugs mentioned are Ciprofloxacine, Niflumic acid, Flecainide, and Voriconazole.

Fluorinated anesthetics mentioned are isoflurane and sevoflurane. These may not be cause for concern because most people do not undergo surgery and those who do rarely do so several times. Confine yourself to essential surgery only.