VIEWPOINT: It’s a huge question. And in this Viewpoint article for Donegal Daily Noel King certainly thinks so following a recent public meeting in Buncrana.
Ireland is one of the few countries which continues to add fluoride to our public water supply.
Here’s what he has to say – tagged at the bottom with more than 60 references to international reports.
By Noel King
At a recent meeting of the” Forum For Change” in Buncrana, the issue of the dangers of fluoridation in the public water system, was raised. I am writing to you on our behalf, and with concern for all the people who are being forced fed this highly toxic substance, to remove it.
All of the following countries have already carried out the removal of this toxic substance, Austria ,Belgium, Finland, Germany,Denmark,Norway, Sweden Hungry,China and Japan. In fact nearly all European countries water supplies are fluoride free.
The devastating long term effects are well documented, and have far reaching detrimental problems for us all and not least our most innocent and vulnerable, infants and children.
Infant exposure to fluoride through baby formula is irresponsible. One of the most frightening aspects of fluoridation is the cause and affect it has on Hypothyroidism (under- active thyroid) The symptoms of this condition aggravated by fluoride are depression, fatigue, weight gain, muscle and joint pain, increase in cholesterol levels and heart disease.
Adding to this, Skeletal Flourosis (fluoride-induced bone and joint disorder mimic the symptoms of arthritis,to this end, many of our elderly have an increase risk of hip fracture.)
On a point of information, the American Dental Association one of the biggest advocates of fluoridation, in 2006 advised that parents ,where possible,should make baby formula in fluoride free water. It has been shown to have adverse effects on male reproduction and fertility.
There is also substantial evidence to prove that this toxic substance develops neurotoxin leading to learning difficulties and behavioural problems.The list goes on and on.
The overwhelming evidence is that our public water system being treated with fluoride, has a negative effect on our well-being and health.
We are urging the Council to remove this in view of its dangers and in the interest of public health and safety.
One further factor should give us deep anxiety. Professor Hume of Dundee, in his paper given earlier this year to the Novartis Foundation, pointed out that iodine deficiency is growing worldwide. There are 141 million Europeans at risk; only five European countries are iodine sufficient. Professor Hume recently produced figures to show that 40% of pregnant women in the Tayside region of Scotland were deficient by at least half of the iodine required for a normal pregnancy.
These figures would be worrying enough, since they mean that iodine deficiency, which results in hypothyroidism (thyroid hormone cannot be manufactured without iodine) is likely to affect huge numbers of people.
What makes it infinitely worse, is that fluorine, being a halogen (chemically related to iodine) but much more active, displaces iodine. Thus the uptake of iodine is compromised by the ejection, as it were, of the iodine by fluorine. To condemn the entire population, already having marginal levels of iodine, to inevitable progressive failure of their thyroid system by fluoridating the water, borders on criminal lunacy.
Fluoridation of the nation’s water supply will do little for our dental health, but will have catastrophic effects on our general health. We cannot, must not, dare not, subject our nation to this appalling risk.
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