Dr. Vyvyan Howard is a medical pathologist and toxicologist,
and also President of the International Society of Doctors for the Environment.
In a short video clip put together by the Fluoride Action Network, he expressed
his concern over the use of fluoride in our water supplies.
Over the last two to three decades, Dr Howard's research has centered on the
effects of toxic substances on the development of fetuses and infants. This, of
course, is a period of life whereby one is particularly vulnerable to certain
external effects.
So, how was Dr Howard's attention first drawn to fluoride? According to him, it
was the "very very low levels" of the chemical found in human breast
milk. This, he said, is due to a mechanism developed in the course of
evolution, specifically for keeping the substance away from developing infants.
"Nature has devised a system for keeping fluoride away from the infant,
and we are circumventing that by putting fluoride into drinking water, and I
think there are consequences," he said.
What consequences? According to Dr Howard, fluoride is a developmental toxin.
More specifically, it is a neurotoxin, and it may also affect the intelligence
of the child. While the evidence may not yet be clear-cut, there do seem to be
strong indications.
Further, Dr Howard said that other studies have shown the possible ability of
fluoride to affect hormonal systems and endocrine systems. In particular, it
can influence thyroid levels, and that can have an impact on the IQ in children
who are in the development phase.
When thyroid levels are measured in the mother, being at the upper limit of the
normal range of thyroid and being at the lower limit of the normal range brings
about a difference in intelligence in the offspring. Where thyroid levels are
concerned, we are thus "tinkering with quite a sensitive system".
About Water Fluoridation
Should fluoride be added to our water supplies? Dr Howard was quite clear about
what he felt.
"So, the evidence is out there for us to have to say that we got to be
very careful. And my opinion is that there isn't a satisfactory one dose fits
all solution through treating our population via tap water. There are going to
be some members of that population which will be more disadvantaged than
others, and they will obviously include the fetus and the infant, but at the
other end of life, people who have got marginal kidney function will be more
susceptible. And therefore, I don't think, on a precautionary basis, that we
should be continuing the fluoridation of drinking water supplies," he
said.
And he had some strong words regarding the authorities who continue adding
fluoride to water supplies, too.
"If governments don't have ways of making sure that people in the areas
that are fluoridated who are susceptible, like bottled fed babies, are actually
stopped from being exposed in that way, then they have no right, really, to be
using a mass medication like this," he added.
According to the video clip, Dr Howard is one of over 1,750 professionals from
various communities - medical, scientific, and environmental - to sign a
statement "calling for an end to water fluoridation worldwide".
Worried about the Teeth?
There may be some of us who are worried about how removing fluoride from our
drinking water might affect our teeth. But we may not need to be.
An increasing number of studies have cast doubts on the benefits which water
fluoridation can bring to the teeth. According to statistics from the World
Health Organization, the tooth decay rates of countries which do not
fluoridate their water supplies are just as low, or even lower, than those
countries which do.
Further, several studies published since 2000 have reported that there has been
no increase in tooth decay rates noted in communities which ended water
fluoridation.
And we should also note that, in November 2006, the American Dental Association
actually advised parents to avoid giving fluoridated water to babies.
Babies who are exposed to fluoride have a higher risk of getting dental
fluorosis, which is a permanent tooth defect arising when fluoride damages the
cells which form the teeth.
Fluoride's benefits result from topical contact with the teeth, and swallowing
or ingesting it brings minimal benefit. According to the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, fluoride's "predominant effect is posteruptive and
topical". Posteruptive means "occurring or forming after eruption (as
of the teeth)".
Removing Fluoride from Our Water
In fact, ingesting fluoride comes with many health risks. Besides affecting the
brain and the thyroid gland, the bones and kidneys can also be negatively
impacted.
For those of us who are genuinely concerned about our health, and especially
the health of our little ones, removing fluoride from our drinking water is
imperative.
Unfortunately, unlike for chlorine, boiling does not do the trick. An
installation of a reverse osmosis filter, or carrying out of water
distillation, may thus be necessary.