Good Thing I'm Lazy...

Here's a follow up from Dolores Otting on getting more Fluoride in our drinking water, specifically as it relates to Infant formula. Fortunately, my wife and I were too lazy to add water to the concentrated or powder formula, sticking with the Ready to Feed stuff.

The more I research, the more I was mystified as to why such a barbarian method is used to fight cavities. According to the US Dept. of Health & Human Services “Toxicological Profile for Fluorides, Hydrogen Fluoride, and Fluorine (F) 1993 notes on page 112: “Subsets of the population may be unusually susceptible to the toxic effects of fluoride and its compounds. These populations include the elderly, people with deficiencies of calcium, magnesium, and/or vitamin C, and people with cardiovascular and kidney problems”- just to name a few. If you want the exact studies go to http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/FluorideToxProfile.htm.

One of the more fascinating items I found was actually on the American Dental Association website itself. http://www.ada.org/prof/resources/positions/statements/fluoride_infants.asp

“ADA Interim Guidance: Infant Formula

The ADA offers these recommendations so parents, caregivers and health care professionals who are concerned have some simple and effective ways to reduce fluoride intake from reconstituted infant formula.

• Breast milk is widely acknowledged as the most complete form of nutrition for infants. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends human milk for all infants (except for the few for whom breastfeeding is determined to be harmful).
• For infants who get most of their nutrition from formula during the first 12 months, ready-to-feed formula is preferred to help ensure that infants do not exceed the optimal amount of fluoride intake.
• If liquid concentrate or powdered infant formula is the primary source of nutrition, it can be mixed with water that is fluoride free or contains low levels of fluoride to reduce the risk of fluorosis. Examples are water that is labeled purified, demineralized, deionized, distilled or reverse osmosis filtered water. Many grocery stores sell these types of drinking water for less than $1 per gallon.
• The occasional use of water containing optimal levels of fluoride should not appreciably increase a child’s risk for fluorosis.

….. Ask your pediatrician or family physician whether water used in infant formula should be sterilized first (sterilization, however, will not remove fluoride).”

Notice it says, “sterilization, however, will not remove fluoride”. I ask then how to we bathe our infants and ourselves? Depending on whether a child has eaten, or if there is residual food in the stomach, about 20-50 percent of chemical contaminants are metabolized when foods or beverages are consumed. With skin exposure (dermal absorption) and inhalation virtually 100 % of the contaminants are absorbed directly into the bloodstream.

This is not your Dentist’s fluoride and comes free with lead and arsenic. Claims are made daily that Hydrofluosilicic Acid will prevent cavities, yet it does not require a prescription nor has the FDA approved it. Remember, not only will it cause harm to you, your pets and plants, since does not evaporate it will be sure to accumulate in your pool and Jacuzzi. Just imagine how much fluoride the Swim Teams and your children could be exposed to.

Since most of us in Newport Beach pay the City of Newport Beach for our water you can make a difference by telling the City and the City Council NO to adding Hydrofluosilicic Acid to our water.

Dolores O.