Green Ninja

Mandatory Fluoridation of Drinking Water – Health Benefit or Health Risk

According to this article from Reuters news

“Most Americans get their water from municipal or regional community water systems. A new CDC report showed that as of 2006, 69 percent of people in the United States who get water from these systems received fluoridated water, up from 65 percent in 2000 and 62 percent in 1992.”

I often have wondered about the health benefits of fluoridation especially since I have heard of numerous concerns regarding health risks and harmful additives associated with manufactured fluoride. Fluoride does occur naturally in groundwater. Fluoride that is added to tap water is mostly manufactured from Fluorosilicic acid. FSA is a waste product from the manufacture of phosphate fertilizer. There are other sources for fluoride manufacture too but not as widely used.

If Americans are truly benefiting from fluoridation as the governments claims, I would think that the rise in consumption of bottled water and other bottled beverages would reduce the amount of tap water consumed. How would anyone know for sure that you are benefiting from fluoridation just because you live where it is available? Research that is supposed to support drinking water fluoridation refers to lowered dental bills in fluoridated areas. Couldn't you be paying less dental bills because of better access to dental care, good oral hygiene or a healthier diet? I think it is possible for fluoride claims to easily be misrepresented if these factors are not considered.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a fact sheet is available on their website.
A web link is provided so you can check if your city’s water is fluoridated.

On the CDC site, there is a specific FAQ about the cost of fluoridating a water system. It states “The per person cost of fluoridation varies by the size of the community population. The average cost of providing fluoridated water to communities with more than 20,000 residents is about 50 cents per year” It doesn't’t really give you the whole picture of what it would cost your community. Portland Oregon is a city where fluoridation is still not in effect and the topic is hotly debated. According to KATU.com, David Shaff, the administrator of the Portland Water Bureau, said mandated fluoridation would cost the city up to $4 million upfront, and then $600,000 in annual operating costs. To me, numbers like 4 million put it in better perspective for me.

Fluoride is the only active ingredient in toothpaste. On toothpaste tubes there is a warning that if swallowed you should call a poison control center immediately. So what does drinking fluoride do? The CDC site talks of the benefits of fluoride but does not state any hard data. How do we really know if it works or not and has anyone specifically studied the concerns? The FDA or EPA do not control the fluoridation of drinking water. Those who condemn fluoridation claim that fluoride can have ill effects on the environment and people’s long term health. Flouridealert.org refers to a study in which the dental costs for HMO’s participants were tracked in Portland Metro area of Oregon. In this case, the dental care costs in the largest region surveyed were lower in the areas without water fluoridation. That data doesn't’ seem to support the claims of CDC. If fluoride has even a tiny risk, I can’t see the value in adding it to the water. Someone is profiting from selling the “valuable” waste products that become the fluoride additive. I am sure that helps to perpetuate the need for fluoridation. I was not surprised to also find that most other countries do not fluoridate. Alot of countries who did flouridate their drinking water have eliminated it or have reduced the fluoride due to health concerns. Here are some links below about fluoride in case you would like to read more for yourself.

CDC Fact Sheet http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/faqs.htm
www.fluoridedebate.com
www.fluoridealert.org
http://www.zerowasteamerica.org/Fluoride.htm
http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof/

Doctors to Start Prescribing Cholesterol Drugs to Children

The new policy statement issued on Monday recommends cholesterol screening of children and adolescents with a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease -- and giving cholesterol-lowering drugs to some if necessary.

This statement was issued by the American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday.

I find it shocking and not so shocking at the same time that doctor's would consider drugs for children. I would hope that if a child was found to have high cholesterol levels that the obvious diet and exercise modification would be implemented first. But, that is not often the case. Drug companies will likely start aggressively marketing their products to pediatricians and parents may be encouraged to place their children on medication. Many people want a quick fix but that is never worth risking the long term effects of being on medication for years. I would hope parents consider this if their pediatrician prescribes a cholesterol lowering drug.

Are Colorings and Preservatives in Food Making Kids Hyper?

A study funded by Britain’s Food Standards Agency has reported what many parents have long suspected: artificial food colorings and preservatives can make kids hyperactive

Source: Mother Earth News

I too have felt that a child's diet can have a direct connection to behavior. In my opinion kids seem to get bored very easily and are much more moody today. Could this have a correlation to their diet? It does seem possible.

Not that long ago I tried a test with my own kids to see if their diet could have anything to do with their lack of energy. I restricted sugar and processed foods as much as possible. When they were eating healthier their demeanor improved and they definitely wanted to do more things besides video games.

It is very hard to compete with ads on TV and the easy access of sugary processed foods at relatives, friend's houses or even at school. Almost all foods marketed to kids today are colored or preserved to be "easy" like drinks, candy, Lunchables or microwave meals. The packages are attractive and may be endorsed by their favorite celebrity or character. Even amid these challenges you can foster change. By being consistent and not giving in, kids will eventually come around. They may even realize that they do feel better when they eat healthy!

Eco Friendly Fireworks?

According to this report Pyrotechnics For The Planet , eco friendly fireworks may be coming in the near future. Studies have linked potassium perchlorate, a compound in fireworks used to speed up the burning process, to contamination in lakes. Other researchers believe perchlorate is a potential human health hazard because it could reduce the production of thyroid hormone. The color-producing heavy metals in fireworks have also been linked to toxic effects.