More Communities Throw out Fluoridation

New York ­ December 21 -- Legislators and officials are responding to newly published evidence of fluoride's adverse effects and rejecting fluoridation.

This December, Juneau, Alaska and Martin County, Florida voted fluoride out of their drinking water. A Tennessee state legislator urged water companies to stop fluoridation. And the Vermont Department of Health sent a fluoridation warning to all Vermont dentists and pediatricians.

December 19, Martin County, Florida commissioners reversed their 2002 fluoridation mandate. Commissioners said fluoride studies raised health doubts, and they weren't convinced an oral health problem exists in their county.(1)

December 11, the Juneau, Alaska assembly decided to stop fluoridation. One assemblyman said, ".many medical experts are against providing fluoride to infants. I think I prefer the cautious approach," reports the Juneau Empire.(2)

Tennessee State legislator Dr. Joey Hensley, also a physician, urged all Tennessee water departments to stop fluoridation, in letters dated December 4. (3) One city announced plans to stop January 2007.(4)

According to Hensley, "information is now coming out showing that the health risks associated with drinking fluoridated water significantly outweigh fluoride's limited cavity fighting action."

In March 2006, the National Research Council's (NRC) long-awaited report revealed that fluoride jeopardizes health - even at low levels.   Dental fluorosis is now an adverse health effect, bone fractures are now of concern, arthritis like pain and stiffness in joints is now a result of low levels of fluoride exposure, tiny amounts of fluoride can cause thyroid depression and brain damage, according to the NRC report.

One NRC fluoride panel member was Tennessee risk assessment expert Kathleen Thiessen, PhD, who wrote to the Governor of Tennessee, "I support Representative Joey Hensley's recent recommendation that Tennessee water agencies stop adding fluoride to their water, and I encourage you to do so as well."(5)

Dr. Thiessen works for Senes Oak Ridge, a human health and ecologic risk assessment firm, whose clients include the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

Per the American Dental Association's precedent-setting advice, the Vermont Department of Health notified Vermont dentists and pediatricians, to warn parents against using fluoridated water for infant formula.(6) to avoid tooth- discoloring dental fluorosis.

Acushnet, Massachusetts Board of Health asked New Bedford officials to halt its pending fluoridation of the shared water supply and alert the public of adverse aspects.(7) www.juneauempire.com/stories/121206/loc_20061212020.shtml "Demand your community halt or decline fluoridation. Fluoridation is ineffective, unnecessary, and harmful," says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation.

Also, in 2005 and 2006 over 15 communities rejected fluoridation in at least 13 States and British Columbia.(8)

Contact: Paul Beeber, Esq., President, NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. 516-433-8882,   nyscof@aol.com

www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof    and www.fluorideaction.net/

 References: (1)  "Martin votes against fluoridating water," Palm Beach Post, December 19, 2006  www.palmbeachpost.com/news/content/local_news/epaper/2006/12/19/1219 fluoride.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=17

(2) "City gives final word: No fluoride," Juneau Empire, December 12, 2006 www.juneauempire.com/stories/121206/loc_20061212020.shtml

(3) "Physician-Legislator Advises Tennessee Water Districts to Halt Water Fluoridation," News Release from the Lillie Center, Inc., December 6, 2006 www.fluorideaction.net/press/hensley.htm

(4)   "Water districts cautioned against fluoride,"  The Herald-News, December 13, 2006 www.rhea.xtn.net/index.php?template=news.view.subscriber&table=n ews&newsid=135784

(5a) "Noted Risk Assessment Expert Advises TN Governor to End Fluoridation," News Release by the Lillie Center, Inc., December 19, 2006 www.fluorideaction.net/press/thiessen.htm

(5b) December 13, 2006, letter to Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen by Kathleen M. Thiessen, PhD www.fluoridealert.org/thiessen-letter.pdf

(5c)  "Water fluoridation: Suggested issues for consideration." By Kathleen M. Thiessen, PhD, December 13, 2006 www.fluoridealert.org/thiessen-statement.pdf

(6) "Health dept. issues fluoridation warning," Reformer, December 19, 2006 www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_4865372

(7) "Board of Health hopes to halt fluoridation," Standard-Times   December 12, 2006 www.southcoasttoday.com/daily/12-06/12-12-06/07local.htm

(8) "Communities which have Rejected Fluoridation Since 1990," compiled by Maureen Jones and the Fluoride Action Network www.fluoridealert.org/communities.htm

 SOURCE:  NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc PO Box 263 Old Bethpage, NY  11803 www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

Fluoridation News Releases tinyurl.com/6kqtu tinyurl.com/6kqtu

Tooth Decay Crises in Fluoridated Areas www.fluoridenews.blogspot.com/

Fluoride Action Network www.FluorideAction.Net www.fluoridealert.org/ www.juneauempire.com/stories/121206/loc_20061212020.shtml