First-ever government review of fluoride/thyroid toxicology

2008-05-19 15:54:10 - There is clear evidence that small amounts of
fluoride, at or near levels added to U.S. water supplies,
present potential risks to the thyroid gland, according to the
National Research Council's (NRC) first-ever published review of the
fluoride/thyroid literature.(A)

Fluoride, in the form of silicofluorides, injected into 2/3 of U.S.
public water supplies, ostensibly to reduce tooth decay, was never
safety-tested.(B)

"Many Americans are exposed to fluoride in the ranges associated with
thyroid effects, especially for people with iodine deficiency," says
Kathleen Thiessen, PhD, co-author of the government-sponsored NRC
report. "The recent decline in iodine intake in the U.S could
contribute to increased toxicity of fluoride for some individuals,"
says Thiessen.

"A low level of thyroid hormone can increase the risk of cardiac
disease, high cholesterol, depression and, in pregnant woman,
decreased intelligence of offspring," said Thiessen.(C)

Common thyroid symptoms include fatigue, weight gain, constipation,
fuzzy thinking, low blood pressure, fluid retention, depression, body
pain, slow reflexes, and more. It's estimated that 59 million
Americans have thyroid conditions.(D)

Robert Carton, PhD, an environmental scientist who worked for over 30
years for the U.S. government including managing risk assessments on
high priority toxic chemicals, says "fluoride has detrimental effects
on the thyroid gland of healthy males at 3.5 mg a day. With iodine
deficiency, the effect level drops to 0.7 milligrams/day for an
average male."(E) (1.0 mg/L fluoride is in most water supplies)

Among many others, the NRC Report cites human studies which show

- fluoride concentrations in thyroids exceeding that found in other
soft tissues except kidney

- an association between endemic goiter and fluoride exposure or
enamel fluorosis in human populations

- fluoride adversely affects thyroid and parathyroid hormones, which
affect bone health

"If you have a thyroid problem, avoiding fluoride may be a good
preventive health measure for you," writes Drs' Richard and Karilee
Shames in "Thyroid Power."(F).

Over, 1,700 Physicians, Dentists, Scientists, Academics and
Environmentalists urge Congress to stop water fluoridation until
Congressional hearings are conducted. They cite new scientific
evidence that fluoridation is ineffective and has serious health
risks. (http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html)

Please sign the petition and Congressional letter to support these
professionals http://www.FluorideAction.Net

References:

(A) "Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA's
Standards," Committee on Fluoride in Drinking Water, Board on
Environmental Studies and Toxicology, Division on Earth and Life
Studies, National Research Council of the National Academies of
Science. March 2006 Chapter 8
http://www.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11571

"Thyroid Function: Fluoride exposure in humans is associated with
elevated TSH concentrations, increased goiter prevalence, and altered
T4 and T3 concentrations." (Page 262)

"(The thyroid effects are associated with average fluoride intakes
that) will be reached by persons with average exposures at fluoride
concentrations of 1-4 mg/L in drinking water, especially the
children." (Page 260)

(B) Sodium Hexafluorosilicate and Fluorosilicic Acid
Review of Toxicological Literature, October 2001
http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/ntp/htdocs/Chem_Background/ExSumPDF/Fluorosil
icates.pdf

(C) Chemical & Engineering News, "Fluoride Risks Are Still A
Challenge," by Bette Hileman, September 4, 2006,
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/government/84/8436gov1.html

(D) Mary Shomon, About.com Thyroid editor, Patient Advocate --
Author of "The Thyroid Diet" and "Living Well With Hypothyroidism"
http://thyroid.about.com/

(E) Fluoride, "Review of the 2006 National Research Council Report:
Fluoride in Drinking Water," July-September 2006, by Robert J. Carton
http://www.fluorideresearch.org/393/files/FJ2006_v39_n3_p163-172.pdf

(F) Thyroid Power and Feeling Fat Fuzzy or Frazzeled"by Richard
Shames MD & Karilee Shames RN, PhD http://www.thyroidpower.com
http://www.feelingfff.com/

Fluoride/Thyroid Health Effects
http://www.fluoridealert.org/health/thyroid/

Sources of Fluoride
http://www.fluoridealert.org/f-sources.htm

Sulfuryl Fluoride Pesticide Residues Allowed on Foods
http://www.fluoridealert.org/pesticides/sulfuryl.f.all.food.html
United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Fluoride
Database of Selected Beverages and Foods
http://www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcomp/Data/Fluoride/Fluoride.html

Contact Information:
New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc

PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11804

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