Editor:
Recently, I was provided a copy of an article by the Fluoride Action Network titled “50 Reasons To Oppose Fluoridation.” It is my opinion that this article succinctly provides these reasons and documentation to them. I am going to provide excerpts from these articles so that our valley can get a clear picture of why fluoridating our water is so concerning.
The Introduction: “Fluoridation is the practice of adding a fluoride compound to the public drinking water supply ostensibly for the purpose of fighting tooth decay. The levels used range from 0.6 to 1.2 milligrams of fluoride ion per liter (or parts per million, ppm). The practice began in the U.S. in 1945 and was endorsed by the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) in 1950. Very few countries have adopted this practice to any significant extent. Only eight countries in the world have more than 50 percent of their populations drinking artificially fluoridated water (Australia, Colombia, Ireland, Israel, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the U.S.). In Europe, only Ireland (with 73 percent of the population fluoridated), the U.K. (10 percent) and Spain (10 percent) fluoridate some of their water supplies. In the U.S., about 70 percent of the population is drinking fluoridated water — that is approximately 200 million people and about half the number of people drinking artificially fluoridated water worldwide. Some countries have areas with high natural fluoride levels in the water. These include India, China and parts of Africa. In these countries measures are being taken to remove the fluoride because of the health problems that fluoride can cause.
Fluoridation is a bad medical practice [because]:
• Fluoride is the only chemical added to water for the purpose of medical treatment. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classify fluoride as a drug when used to prevent or mitigate disease (FDA 2000). As a matter of basic logic, adding fluoride to water for the sole purpose of preventing tooth decay (a non-waterborne disease) is a form of medical treatment. All other water treatment chemicals are added to improve the water’s quality or safety, which fluoride does not do.
• Fluoridation is unethical. Informed consent is standard practice for all medication, and one of the key reasons why most of Western Europe has ruled against fluoridation. With water fluoridation we are allowing governments to do to whole communities (forcing people to take a medicine irrespective of their consent) what individual doctors cannot do to individual patients. While referenda are preferential to imposed policies from government, it still leaves the problem of individual rights versus majority rule. Put another way: Does a voter have the right to require that their neighbor ingest a certain medication (even if it is against that neighbor’s will)?”
The above points are taken directly from the article. I claim no credit for the above information. It is my intent that these letters will lead to open dialogue and questioning to this dangerous practice.
If Aspen is to consider itself forward thinking and on the cutting edge of a healthy lifestyle, I hope people will use this information as food for thought.
Dr. Tom Lankering, D.C.
Aspen