Concern about the fluoridation of public drinking water

Concern about the fluoridation of public drinking water
The following document has been received from the Western Australian water corporation in regards to fluoride in drinking water. We will attempt to address each point one by one an include links to relevant studies from numerous sources as well as embed videos to give more information.

 Fluoride Information Sheet

Fluoridation of public water supplies has been practiced since 1945.

No water corp, "Fluoridation of public water systems has been controversial since 1945, when Grand Rapids, Mich., became the first U.S. city to add the chemical to its water supply."

Prior to this "probably the earliest means of artificial water fluoridation was the uncontrolled release of industrial fluoride waste into rivers and streams from where many communities get their drinking water."

The defence of this practice came from the Mellon institute:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7422984715562163381

The Mellon institute founded by Andrew W Mellon (a freemason) operated on a contractual basis where-by industrial corporations funded their research. Following the money you find that they practised a lot of junk science for the benefit of industry. For example the Mellon institute defended the asbestos industry for years.



 Public water supplies are fluoridated due to properties of fluorine to reduce dental caries.

Now this is interesting. Firstly although it doesn't state that here even the World Health Organisation state that "the essentiality of fluoride for humans has not been proven unequivocally" they still agree with the water corp position that "properties of fluorine reduce dental caries" e.g: "The essentiality of fluoride for humans has not been proven unequivocally (IPCS 2002a; WHO/FAO/IAEA 1996; IOM 2003). However, this element has beneficial effects on the prevention of dental caries due to the formation of crystalline hydroxyfluorapatite leading to a more acid resistant enamel form (IPCS 2002a; WHO/FAO/IAEA 1996; IOM 2003). Because there is insufficient data to calculate requirements, an AI is provided based on the fluoride intake that reduces the occurrence of dental caries maximally, without causing untoward effects linked to excess exposure, such as dental fluorosis (stained enamel) (IOM 2003)." --

So this hydroxyfluorapatite is thought to be more acid resistant than the hydroxy apatite naturally found in teeth and bone. Yet a recent study that appears in the CS' journal Langmuir find that this layer is only 6 nanometers thick and would be worn away by simple chewing.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101215121918.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorine_deficiency

 In Western Australia fluoridation is regulated by the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act (1966) which is administered by the Department of Health. An Advisory Committee (the FAC) oversees fluoridation and makes recommendations to the Minister for Health who may issue or rescind directives as appropriate.

Towns with populations of 3000 people or more and those smaller towns, which have submitted a request to the appropriate authority, are required to carry out fluoride dosing.

Dose rates have been set to provide consumers with a prescribed amount of fluoride based on water consumption. As average water consumption is proportional to ambient temperatures different dose rates have been set out for various parts of the state.

A maximum dose rate of 1 mg/L is prescribed in the Act. Not withstanding the provisions of the Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies Act the maximum health related criteria for fluoride is 1.5 mg/L in the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines 2004.


 * 1) Typical Chemical  Analysis of Fluoride Products used in Perth’s Water Supply

Fluoride is added to Perth’s water supply in two forms: fluorosilicic acid (liquid) and sodium fluoride (powder). A typical analysis for each of these products is detailed below.


 * 1) Presence of Heavy Metals in Fluoride Products

The product analysis on the previous page lists typical levels of arsenic, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury and selenium in fluorosilicic acid.

As fluoride is dosed at a concentration of 0.7 to 1.0 mg/L (see point 8), the contribution of the metals listed to drinking water is approximately 1 million times lower. Fluoride dosing therefore adds negligible heavy metals into Perth’s water supply.


 * 1) <font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Quantity of Fluoride Products Used

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">The quantity of fluorosilicic acid used by Water Corporation is approximately 700 tonnes per annum.

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">The amount of sodium fluoride used by Water Corporation is approximately 34 tonnes per annum.


 * 1) <font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Fluoride Suppliers

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Fluorosilicic acid is supplied by CSBP Limited.

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Sodium Fluoride is supplied by Redox Chemicals and Orica Australia.


 * 1) <font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Origin of Fluoride Sources

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Fluorosilicic acid is manufactured on site at CSBP Limited (Kwinana, WA).

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Sodium Fluoride is sourced from China and Belgium by the respective suppliers.


 * 1) <font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Manufacturing Process 

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Fluorosilicic acid is a co-product of CSBP’s superphosphate manufacturing process, produced by the action of sulfuric acid on phosphate rock containing fluoride and silica.

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Sodium Fluoride is the crystallised salt form of fluosilicic acid.


 * 1) <font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Fluoride Grade

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Fluoride used by Water Corporation complies with American Water Works Association (AWWA) Standards for potable water treatment.


 * 1) <font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">Fluoride Concentrations in Drinking Water

<font face="Trebuchet MS, sans-serif">In Perth Metropolitan fluoride is dosed to a level of 0.7 to 1.0 mg/L.