How We Got Fluoridated

How We Got Fluoridated

by Philip Heggen

Preface

Throughout the world, and from the beginning, virtually all living creatures have been exposed to fluoride. It's nothing new. Fluoride is one of the most abundant elements in the earth's crust - cumulative and toxic to all forms of life at remarkably low dosage.

Sixty years ago U.S. dental researchers had identified areas in sixteen states where disfiguring mottled enamel was a serious problem. Thirty years ago, the World Health Organization had noted that high concentrations of fluoride are found in areas of every continent and that dental fluorosis is a problem from Finland to South Africa and from England to Japan.

But fluoride affects more than just developing teeth. Even dinosaurs have ingested water and vegetation contaminated by fluoride from volcanic gases and ash - and suffered the consequence in terms of painful arthritic effects.

Industrial mining and manufacturing, like mini-volcanoes, bring up fluorides from the earth into the biosphere, with similar effects on human communities. In the past century or so, man has spawned these "mini-volcanoes" without fully understanding the consequences. Modern well-drilling equipment has provided much needed water from deep within the earth - and this, too, has resulted in fluoride poisoning.

Fluoridation has not been a conspiracy in the usual sense of the word ... but rather, a colossal blunder.

"The problem is enormous, unbelievable," says Andezhath Susheela of the Fluorosis Research and Rural Development Foundation in Delhi, India. She has been unraveling the national story for a decade during which time her estimate of the number of people leading "a painful and crippled life" from fluorosis has risen from one million to 25 million and now to 60 million - six million of them children - spread across tens of thousands of communities. "In some villages three-quarters of the population are seriously affected."

This paper is a chronicle and overview spanning the history of modern industry. It shows the rise of fluoride pollution and how economic motives have overridden concerns for human health. We take you back to the early metal refinery pollution in Europe and show the record of lawsuits for fluoride damage. This reveals the basis for American industry's fear of being shut down by lawsuits. We also document the steps taken by industry to divert public attention away from fluoride air pollution. This chronicle shows that the origin of water fluoridation is in these fluoride fears of industry -- not in concern for children's teeth.

During the 1940s, the development of the atom bomb required handling huge amounts of fluoride in the production of nuclear weapons. Documented here is a major safety study by the Atomic Energy Commission. As a result of this extensive study, the federal government became involved in the suppression of information about fluoride poisoning. Formerly restricted government documents now made available under the Freedom of Information Act have filled in blank spaces in this chronology.

Thus, both big government and big industry, for different reasons, became involved in the cover up. The succeeding collaboration of industry and government is documented below in detail.

The difficulties in maintaining a deception over an extended time are sizable. This is especially true with an ongoing issue like fluoridation. A compounding of dishonest statements and actions is required to maintain the original deception. At a certain point, the truth of the situation becomes obvious. These consequences are now coming to bear on the defenders of fluoridation. The Epilogue deals with this coming confrontation.

Introduction

Er, I DID state in an earlier post that CALCIUM FLUORIDE IS LESS POISONOUS than SODIUM FLUORIDE, largely due to its low solubility.

Do you agree that the statement that you made, "ALL fluoride compounds are toxic", is false, based on the fact it's LD50 is higher than that of salt?

Because it is less ACUTELY toxic than salt does not mean its LONG TERM CUMULATIVE effect is as benign.

Seeing as now you were wrong about fluoride not being excreted, this is also a false statement.

Can you point to a study showing calcium fluoride has long term toxic effects?

I thought not.

In any case Tom, you STILL show NO concern over the health of your (hypothetical) patients or anyone elses...

If you are going to be a complete coward, and not take me up on my $10,000 wager, you should hold off on the accusations.

Will you accept my wager?

Because it is less ACUTELY toxic than salt does not mean its LONG TERM CUMULATIVE effect is as benign.
Seeing as now you were wrong about fluoride not being excreted, this is also a false statement.

Will you stop lying about that? You, I, and the rest of the readers ALL know that only SOME fluoride is excreted, where roughly 40% is retained in adults, more than that in children.

Can you point to a study showing calcium fluoride has long term toxic effects?

I can show you some where SODIUM FLUORIDE HAS been shown to have long term effects. Would that be sufficient for you?

I thought not.

BUT Tom, if fluoride ions are the same, and SODIUM FLUORIDE IONS ARE TOXIC, then ANY FLUORIDE ION IS TOXIC.....

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