Both Parties Need Planks to Restore Scientific Integrity at the CDC

    NEW YORK, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- According to the Fluoride
 Action Network (FAN), there is a crucial need for both parties to restore
 scientific integrity to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) on several
 policies. The most egregious is their continued unscientific support for
 water fluoridation.
 
     "The simplest and quickest way to restore public trust in the CDC is
 for both Democrats and Republicans to put a commitment to end fluoridation
 into their party platforms," says Paul Connett, Ph.D., FAN's Executive
 Director.
 
     According to Connett, "Fluoridated water contains 250 times more
 fluoride than in mothers' milk. In 1950, when the Public Health Service
 first endorsed fluoridation, no studies had investigated possible adverse
 health effects. Today, many published studies show fluoride is harmful, but
 the CDC is ignoring these studies and continues its relentless promotion
 and funding of this outdated practice."
 
     The only risk that the CDC acknowledges is dental fluorosis - a tooth
 discoloration - which impacts 32% of American children (1). Both the ADA
 and the CDC now advise that fluoridated water not be used to prepare infant
 formula (2,3).
 
     According to Connett, "this marking of the enamel indicates a child has
 been over-exposed to fluoride. We are concerned about how fluoride may be
 affecting the rest of the child's body. Over 20 studies show that fluoride
 can lower IQ (4,5)."
 
     A 2006 National Research Council fluoride report revealed many health
 risks, including potential damage to the bones, brain and thyroid gland.
 The panel concluded that drinking fluoridated water can pose risks to those
 with thyroid or kidney disorders, diabetics, high water drinkers and
 infants and recommended that the US EPA lower their safe drinking water
 standard (6).
 
     This new research has prompted over 1,800 professionals to call for an
 end to fluoridation worldwide (7).
 
     Meanwhile, researchers reporting in the British Medical Journal (Oct
 2007) showed that tooth decay has come down as fast in non-fluoridated
 countries as fluoridated ones (8).
 
     "It is clear that the CDC's Oral Health Division is misleading the
 public about the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation," says
 Connett.
 
     "They must be held accountable for this. We need both political parties
 to resist the well-heeled dental lobby. Our children's health and the
 public's trust in government health agencies is at stake," says Connett.
 
     http://www.FluorideAction.Net
 
     References: http://fluoridealert.org/pr.8-27-08.html
 
 
 

SOURCE Fluoride Action Network