F.A.N. Newsletter

 The former director of both the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health has joined in the growing chorus of objective experts publicly raising the alarm about fluoridation’s impact on the developing brain.

Toxicologist and microbiologist, Linda Birnbaum, PhD, co-authored an op-ed appearing in the Environmental Health News this morning with Christine Till, PhD, an associate professor of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada, and Bruce Lanphear, MD, MPH, a physician, clinical scientist, and professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada. Till is a co-author of several significant fluoride studies including the JAMA Pediatrics fluoride neurotoxicity study (Green 2019) and others finding lowered IQ, increased diagnosis of ADHD, and thyroid impairment.  She received a leadership award from York University, in part, for this groundbreaking research.  Lanphear is also an award winning researcher who has been a member of two National Academies of Science Committees, is a member of the Environmental Protection Agency’s Lead Review Panel, and is renowned for his research on low-level lead exposure and many other environmental neurotoxins. 

The op-ed entitled, It is time to protect kids' developing brains from fluoride highlights the mounting evidence that fluoride is impairing brain development, and compares the response from the public health community to its delayed response to the obvious harm caused by lead.  The authors call for the US "to rethink this exposure for pregnant women and children," and state that "Given the weight of evidence that fluoride is toxic to the developing brain, it is time for health organizations and regulatory bodies to review their recommendations and regulations to ensure they protect pregnant women and their children...

...We can act now by recommending that pregnant women and infants reduce their fluoride intake."

The Op-ed is accompanied by a powerful animated short video on the impact of fluoride on brain development.  It was produced by Little Things Matter, a non-profit scientific organization composed of children’s environmental health professionals.  Here is their description of the video:  

“Over the past 75 years, health authorities have promoted community water fluoridation to reduce dental caries. Until recently, however, no studies had examined the safety of fluoride in vulnerable populations, like pregnant women and infants. This video describes the history of water fluoridation and new research that found fluoride is toxic to the developing brain.”

Click on the banner below to watch the video and access a transcript with links to all of the studies referenced in it. 

Lanphear's organization also created a printable flyer to educate the general public on "Ways for pregnant women to reduce fluoride exposure," as well as prevent dental decay.

This deserves to go viral.  Please repeatedly share all of these materials far on wide with friends, family, co-workers, fellow campaigners, local officials, and the media.  Also consider emailing it to scientists at your local colleges and universities, along with pediatricians and midwives in your community.  

Sincerely, 

Stuart Cooper
Campaign Director
Fluoride Action Network