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Mount Pleasant City Commission votes to reduce amount of fluoride in city water supply

By Ryan Taljonick on June 15, 2010 2:40 pm in Metro / 7 comments

 

Editor’s Note: This is the first story in a series about fluoride in Mount Pleasant water.

The Mount Pleasant City Commission Monday voted four-to-two to temporarily reduce the amount of sodium fluoride added to the city’s water supply to the lowest level possible, consistent with the language of the 2005 ballot.

The temporary decrease will remain in effect until the Environmental Protection Agency releases findings from an ongoing study researching a safe level of water fluoridation.

The reduction was recommended by the Fluoride Task Force, headed by Commissioner Kathleen Ling and consisting of four other city residents representing a range of opinions regarding water fluoridation.

“The EPA is in the middle of doing a re-assessment,” Ling said. “It seems to us premature to go back to the ballot while we’re waiting for the EPA to finish their study.”

Ling said the task force was created to address whether water fluoridation is effective, safe and if its usage has any significant ethical or legal issues.

The task force members spent nearly a year researching documentation from various experts and organizations regarding the effects of the ingestion of fluoride.

“There do appear to be a number of possible health risks,” Ling said. “We now know it is not ingesting it that strengthens your teeth, it’s topical application.”

Based on reports reviewed by the task force, overexposure to fluoride causes dental fluorosis, which includes symptoms like discoloration of the teeth.

A National Research Council Report published in March 2006 linked fluoride to an increase in bone fractures and skeletal fluorosis, bone cancer, adverse brain development effects and decreased thyroid function, Ling said.

However, she said the American Dental Association and Centers for Disease Control continue to endorse water fluoridation.

Mount Pleasant’s natural fluoride level in city water is 0.4 parts per million, or milligrams per liter. Currently, the city adds fluoride to reach 0.7 ppm, which is within current guidelines of 0.7 to 1 ppm as recommended by the ADA and CDC.

Ling said she expects the fluoride levels to be reduced to somewhere between 0.4 and 0.5 ppm until the EPA’s study is released.

Not all are happy

However, some meeting attendants were disturbed by the commission’s decision.

Carol Hanba, oral health coordinator for the Mid Michigan District Health Department and dental hygienist of more than 30 years, was frustrated.

“I see first hand the disparities of dental health in our children. I think what you did tonight did harm,” she said. “Dentists go to college for nine years to learn what they know.”

But Mount Pleasant resident Jeremy Hart was pleased with the commission’s decision.

“Fluoride affects so much more than your teeth,” he said. “If people want it, fine, but don’t force it on me if I don’t want it.”

Sharyl Majorski, member of the Fluoride Task Force and chemistry lab coordinator at Central Michigan University, said more research is needed on the effects of fluoride ingestion.

“Any chemical can be safe, any chemical can be dangerous,” she said. “This is one that deserves more attention.”

The City Commission also appointed Nancy English to fill prior Commissioner Jeffrey Palmer’s vacant seat.

English is currently a commissioner for the Mount Pleasant Planning Commission.

 

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  • nyscof

    NSF International is a private company that regulates public water supply additives. February 2008 NSF reported that 2% of the 245 fluoridation chemicals sampled from 2000 to 2006 had detectable levels of Lead. (There are approximately 155,000 US public water supplies.) Lead is an allowable trace contaminant in fluoridation chemicals along with antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, selenium, and thallium. See:

    http://www.nsf.org/business/water_distribution/…

    New York State Department of Health dentist J. V. Kumar published national statistics in the July 2009 Journal of the American Dental Association which show similar cavity rates regardless of water fluoride content, However, dental fluorosis rates increased along with water fluoride levels. See analysis “Fluoridation No Benefit; Definite Harm,” by Kathleen M. Thiessen, Ph.D., SENES Oak Ridge, Inc., Center for Risk Analysis here:

    http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/chris/Clinch_20…

    As a consequence of water fluoridation, virtually all foods and beverages contain fluoride in varying levels which do not appear on labels

    See USDA fluoride in foods database

    http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2004/041109.htm

    Studies show that dental professionals are unaware of new fluoride science which shows fluoride's beneficial effects are topical and no system, e.g. this study done by Yoder http://tinyurl.com/Yoder

  • concernedresident

    I believe people have the right to choose whether or not they would like to receive “fluoride treatment”. Notice I said treatment because that is exactly what it is. So by putting fluoride in our water supply the city is in effect medicating us against our will (compulsory medication). The city has an obligation to provide a clean source of water to it residents free of unnecessary containments. Fluoride is readily available is almost all toothpastes, oral rinses, fluoride tablets and fluoride treatments (provided by your dentist). Even the CDC admits that the best and most effective use of Fluoride is topically applied directly on your teeth. It is important to know that the EPA does list fluoride and fluoride compounds as toxic substances and the FDA has never approved Fluoride to be ingested in your body (both of these facts should cause alarm). Water fluoridation is a much bigger issue than just your teeth. I must also add that anytime a Dentist or Oral Hygienist comments on water fluoridation it is only from this angle (teeth). Test after test show that fluoride can cause multiple issues within the rest of your body. Fluoride is a known carcinogen (cancer causer), it is a mutagen (it has the ability to alter your DNA) and it is Bio Cumulative (meaning it builds up in your body over time). If we know that for fluoride to be effective it needs to be applied directly to your teeth how does fluoride help when you water your lawn, wash your clothes or when your kids take a bath? The answer it DOES NOT. So it’s not effective in these examples but the fluoride is introduced into our environment and your kids skin is soaking this substance up when they take bath (remember the skin is the largest organ of the body). The fertilizer industry and the aluminum industry create sodium fluoride and hydrofluosilic acid as an industrial byproduct and per EPA guidelines cannot just dump this stuff into the environment. So if they cannot dump this into the environment what are we doing ever time we water our lawns with water that contains sodium fluoride. Has anyone considered the toxic effects of introducing this substance into the environment we live and play in everyday? You never hear a dentist mention this side of the story. I challenge you to think of how many times you use your water every day that have no bearing or effect on your teeth. If the EPA has listed fluoride as a toxic pollutant what are we doing to our environment in the process? I submit to you the citizens of Mount Pleasant a solution that both sides of this debate can hopefully agree on. I say we take the fluoride out of the water and the money allocated for water fluoridation be used on fluoride tablets or whatever method deemed most appropriate and offer them to residents that wish to have them free of charge. In my opinion this is a win-win situation. I wouldn’t be surprised if the amount of money the city spends on fluoride products to significantly decrease over time as more and more people become aware of the potential negative surrounding fluoride. Even the people who are pro fluoride have to agree that there are many uses of the city water supply that have no bearing or impact on your teeth and per EPA may have detrimental effects on our environment. It is up to YOU the residents of Mount Pleasant to demand this be removed from our water supply. There are better ways to handle this issue so all sides are satisfied.

  • alg19l79

    I attended the City Commission meeting last night, part of the meeting was regarding the Fluoride Task Force and their findings. I am utterly disgusted at the lack of attention and common sense paid by MOST of the Commission. The Task Force clearly showed fluoridated water has an insignificant benefit… to teeth. It also showed it causes harm, as its TOXIC, and the ramifications are unknown at this point. The Commission kept repeating, “it was the will of the people to have fluoride int he water”. What about the duty the Commission has to keep our citizens safe. It's NOT SAFE! EPA Scientists and a host of other organizations including the American Cancer Society DO NOT endorse fluoridated water. When it was voted on back in 2006, these new studies were not out yet. What is it gonna take? If we know it has an insignificant benefit at BEST to teeth and we know it's TOXIC, why is it still in there. They have agreed to reduce the amount (in accordance with what was voted by the people), but that is not good enough. The reason for it being in there is not working, ingesting fluoride is not effective at preventing oral disease, so why the HELL is it still be put in and why do voters even get a say. We shouldn't, it simply should be taken out.

    I applaud Commissioner Ling for the work and trying to show what the Task Force found, but there were some who simply didn't care, which means they don't care about the Mt. Pleasant people. Read the Task Force's findings on the City of Mt. Pleasant website. It's astounding.

  • Jasper

    Another big thing with fluoride is that it aids in aluminum's ability to cross the blood brain barrier and collect in the brain…

    No one seems to ever mention that.

    It's never going to be removed from city water – it's a by-product of the fertilizer/phosphate industry. If the EPA were to ban water fluoridation, then there would be more of a hassle in disposing of the fluoride :)

    Just get an RO filter and you'll be fine.

  • jimschultz

    The Yoder K.M. 2007 study with the link supplied down below is shocking to most. But only if you read it. It shows over 80% of dentists in two states when tested incorrectly believed pre eruptive ingestion of fluoride was an effective method of fluoride benefit. Fluoridation theory is known false and the new theory is post eruptive topical benefit. Like toothpaste or rinse but not fluoridation or drops and pills which increase enamel damage with no provable benefit trade off. At least the toothpaste can have some benefit say recent studies but for the youngest kids who swallow often half or more on the brush damage exceeds benefit. A product called cavistat was tested as totally safe non fluoride and double positive cavity reduction and even cavity correcting effects in a two year study. I seem to remember it is arginine and calcium phosphorus bicarbonate. The amino acid is attacked by one of the hundreds of bacteria in the mouth to make the oral cavity more base instead of acidic protecting teeth for many hours.
    I have never found a dentist who has heard of this proven product with ZERO risk. The ADA by the way blames most dental fluoroisis on parent not supervising kids well enough allowing swallowing too much toothpaste. The UK York 2000 showed fluoridation tripled damage from 15% up to 48% or more them tripled damaged kids. 12.5% were so damaged to need expensive cosmetic repairs said the data. Yes f toothpaste does damage young kids teeth but fluoridation is the foundation cause. Blacks are well proven to be damaged double of whites by fluoride toxicity and hispanics almost as badly but the CDC and ADA refuse to warn the public. Informed consent does not exist when they say safe for all and everyone benefits.
    This is dishonest and deceptive when the data shows ingestion of fluorides cause damaged enamel in about half the kids. Higher in blacks well known for over 5 decades but the CDC even after formal ethics charges in 2007 still refused to inform. Double kidney risk were also part of the charges.
    Research some data yourself at http://www.fluoridealert.org http://www.waterloowatch.com http://www.spotsonmyteeth.com http://www.iaomt.org http://www.nteu280.org
    The last link is the EPA headquarter union of science professionals qualified to make the real determination of safety. Starting in 1985 they called fluoridation fraud and in 1986 even filed a lawsuit to halt fluoridation which the FEds refused to hear. They have asked congress many times and EPA management to end this policy in ever growing numbers with 11 EPa unions in 2005. That is 7,000 qualified professions blowing the whistle but no response. Feb 29 2008 19 with 10,000 professionals asked halt. This is a revolt kept under wrap by the media also and the health department. Remember the list of endorsements happened back in 1951 when fluoride went from being a evil rat poison enzyme destroying cancer causing destroyer of bone and teeth to a benefit. The ADA and AMA and AWWA all had proven in peer review studies fluorides as low as 0.1ppm in the water could damage tooth enamel in susceptable subsets. Almost overnight they said everyone would benefit at 1ppm or actually 1mg daily but kids only as it was a pre eruptive as teeth form. No claims were made for adults who were not even considered for toxic intake risks.
    The Fluoride Deception by Chris Bryson documents why and how this all happened to protect vital war time industry spewing toxic fluoride and lawsuits forming that could have risked the Manhatten Nuke project. The AEC actually altered fluoride studies to make fluoride seem a benefit and not so damaging as they well knew. Fluoridation protected industry not kids.Dentists of the ADa got on this pony and rode it hard to where most now believe it actually is a benefit. It took some brutal re education back when most knew it damaged teeth. Those that did not support fluoridation were made examples of and even doctors were threatened with losing license to practice if they were not silent. This was never about science winning over ignorance.
    Read some and watch some videos about real science. Ponder it some and understand the range of toxic effects that happen at low exposures with cumulative toxicity over a lifetime. Fluoride is the most electronegtive of all elements and very reactive. It is excellent at damaging the hydrogen bond in DNA and enzymes which is one way it damages and kills so well as rat poison and insecticide and herbicide also. Dow has 60 products to kill with fluoride and the new big one is Profume for fumigation of foods in storage and processing facilities. The other name is Vikane when tenting homes for termites and other wood destroying pests. Same product and it is deadly leaving huge fluoride residues in food products with up to 900ppm allowed in dried eggs. That is toothpaste level and the highest level allowed of the 200 food groups. Grains up to 125ppm but 70ppm of any processed grain product. Some nuts as high as 30ppm. All of these would be very toxic to eat even in small amounts. This only happens once maybe every six months so they ignored the risk and the added fluoride exposures.
    Also they proved it is a evil long lived ozone destroyer not safe as claimed to get approval. It replaced methyl bromide because it was a green house gas. Deception maybe?
    I feel strongly about this and graduated from CMU in 1971. Fluoridation benefits no ones health.It damages about half the kids teeth for life and blacks even higher with uglier damage. It increases many of the diseases of aging with toxic cumulative levels just like lead and arsenic which have goals of ZERO. It is more toxic then lead but has a goal of 4.0 ppm concentration in water. This was proven not safe in 1985 and again in 2006 NRC by a 12-0 vote. The EPA has not lowered the level as directed then. They last week said they will not take action in the near future until more studies are completed. The actual chemical toxic waste used in most of fluoridation has never had one study chronic use for safety or benefit. None planned either. It is raw toxic waste from smokestack air pollution devises at phosphate mines. It is stored in holing ponds where all the toxic wastes are disposed of. No government agency or even supplier will state it is a benefit to teeth and does not damage health. They talk about the theory not actual toxic waste chemical slurry. The standard 60 is just a limit on toxic contaminates looked at after dilution when only expensive testing will discover the toxic traces.You do not find what you do not look for. Only one batch a year need be tested and the content varies every day.

  • jimschultz

    jasper answer. yes like I mentioned below it is super excent at transport of aluminum. The best study for that is three by Julie Varnier and it damaged rats brains at 1ppm and kidneys also with 80%dead by 1 year. The living were killed and pathology showed beta amaloyd plack just like in humans and kidney damage in every rat. Lots of bald patches and discolored skin. Ugly diseased rats. It takes much more fluoride to bring rats blood up to fluoride levels found in humans .
    No followup on the varnier studies was done. The mullinex studies were done at Harvard forsyth dental school. It was a complex computer movement detection system as rats behaviors change with toxic exposures. Just like seniors shuffle late in life sometimes. Or repeat actions forever. This showed neurotoxic effects that surprised them all so much they refused to let her publish for fear of losing funding. She published anyway in Neurotoxicity and she was fired immediately. harvard got 250,000 Colgate grant immediately. Strange how things work. http://www.fluoridealert.org has the studies and the stories to take a peak. Aluminum also with fluoride activates the G proteins which are neural switches for all functions. They mimic the real ones and are excellent for destroying synapes by over activity. Russell Blaylock MD has a book on this process and a paper also going into more detail then I understand. This g protein problem was documented in the 80's so there is more then one study- Just ignored. A Polish one was the best I remember. Negative effects depend when exposed in life cycle. None of the effects were good. Stupid or violent is a poor choice. 23 studies most from China now show lowered IQ. Double the morons with high fluoride and half the high IQ for a shift in the bell curve. Less shift with less fluoride but still a shift. Dose related and related to lower Calcium intake also as Calcium binds with fluoride like magnesium and many others.

  • Janinharbor

    NO where in this country can just anyone prescribe a medication for an entire community.
    NO were in this Nation can just anyone decide that a toxic industrial waste product must be ingested, drank, consumed, because “they say so”.
    Fluoride was never approved by the FDA for ingestion. It is not even Fluoride its an acid made from rat poison and a by product from making Fertilizer…….Who in their right mind would tell someone this poison will help prevent tooth decay.
    Anyway you look at it, as Sodium Fluoride, hydrogenfluorosilicic acid, flurosilicic acid, it is not to be consumed. Do you realize that your asking people to drink a poison? Your telling your child drink this poison its safe. What kind of parents, doctors or dentists do we have in this Nation….a bunch of crazy people who know nothing about what they are doing or telling people.
    Wrong is right in their eyes. Its insane and it must be stopped. All of you who do not oppose the fluoridation in drinking water have to be as crazy as a loon. NO common sense, no understanding, your all robots, just because some big pharma company wants a guaranteed income across this nation to dump an Industrial Waste Product in your water so everyone in our family will be susceptible to becoming diseased and your going to believe them? Have you ever seen what Dental Fluorosis looks like? Have you ever seen what Skeletal Fluorosis looks like, which is now called and is Osteoporosis. Have you ever seen children die of bone cancer?
    Has your child or yourself complained of stomach aches, while the F acid is eating your stomachs up , the lining is gone or going, your food is not going to be able to assimilate your foods…..your gut burns and you do not know why? Your fatigued, you feel weak, your bones break easily, you have brown spots on your teeth , the enamel is thick, your teeth fracture easily , elderly have teeth so depleted of calcium that you can almost see through their teeth.
    Dentists love to hear you say , you fractured your tooth….dollar signs go off…..root canal, $900, crown $900…..teeth whitening $1500, if you have not figured out why the doctors are increasing for doing hip replacements and knee replacements, then you don't know the bodies chemistry very well in the presence of toxic flurosilicic acid….
    NO one in this nation, this state or any city in Michigan, should be made to drink an acid or a neurotoxin for life……you'll never be able to produce bone and strong teeth with our stupid government putting that crap in our water.
    Do you know what the Water Quality Report says about “natural “F” ion” ( they don't call any of it Sodium Fluoride, well I guess you do in Mt. Pleasant….its still a neurotoxin…though.
    but they all natural fluoride and then tell you the level , and then say its from “Farm Fertilizer Run Off……or from an Aluminum factory! Now they are telling you the truth….your drinking fertilizer…….now do you still think its safe? So, you all should be arrested for poisoning your children and yourselves with Sodium Fluoride,,,,,,your city government should to and so should your dentist's and your doctors who are giving you poisonous fertilizer and rat poison and tell ing you drink this , this will prevent tooth decay…..that is like saying …..Preparation H shrinks hemorrhoids, when applied……lets put it in your water maybe it would work better that way!
    Even when on the box it is not for internal use……even on the bag of fluoride it has a cross and skull bones warning it is poison …..and you want to drink it??? Who has brainwashed you or maybe your all so toxic or Fluoride drunks that you can't think and you've lost a bunch of brain cells from drinking so much of it…….It does and is causing brain damage….
    We who are smart enough not to believe you or your dentists…….or Big Pharma, or Big Fertilizer Corp……want you to take it out of MY WATER, that I pay FOR, and if you want to consume Fluoride so much, then you ask your dentist to write you a prescription for you and your child for the rest of your lives and you take that tablet of fertilize every day for life…..
    and then when you can't walk at age 60yrs old , your legs are all bowed, your back is humped over and your kid died of bone cancer and he couldn't make it through college cuz his brain cells got damaged and destroyed and it decreased his IQ 20pts, and he never would become as great as he could have been, and when your dentist drives a corvette or a fancy sport car, and you have no money cuz your so fatigued you can't work…….but by God your still taking your fluoride tablets at age 90yrs old……so you won't get any tooth decay…..that all could have been taken care of with a daily tooth brushing and flossing and taking the minerals that build strong bones and teeth………WAKE UP! How long will you believe their lies……..