See also Scientific and Government Reviews and timeline of major developments (PDF – print and distribute!)
Professionals’ Statement Calling for an End to Water Fluoridation (over 4,000 signers)
“It is time for the US, and the few remaining fluoridating countries, to recognize that fluoridation is outdated, has serious risks that far outweigh any minor benefits, violates sound medical ethics and denies freedom of choice. Fluoridation must be ended now.”
“We, the undersigned representatives of a majority (eleven) of EPA’s employee unions, are requesting… setting the maximum contaminant level goal for fluoride at zero, in accordance with Agency policy for all likely or known human carcinogens.”
2012 Harvard Study Finds Fluoride Lowers IQ – Published in Federal Gov’t Journal
2010: Time Magazine lists fluoride as #3 on the list of “Top 10 Common Household Toxins”
“Health Hazards: Neurotoxic and potentially tumorigenic if swallowed.”
“In my opinion, the evidence that fluoridation is more harmful than beneficial is now overwhelming and policy makers who avoid thoroughly reviewing recent data do so at risk of future litigation.”
2008: Canadian Physicians for the Environment – Position Statement
“On the basis of this “weight of evidence” we believe that fluoridation of drinking water is scientifically untenable, and should not be part of a public health initiative or program.”
2008: Scientific Consensus Statement names fluoride as a substance of major concern
“The central question, which is still unresolved, is what level of exposure results in harmful health effects to children. Children’s small size means that, pound-for-pound of body weight, they receive a greater dose of fluoride than adults.”
“…emerging science suggests we need to further study the dose at which fluoridation may increase risks of neurodevelopment disorders, cancer and skeletal or dental fluorosis, particularly for sensitive individuals.”
“Intentionally fluoridating community drinking water is no longer justified. Adding fluoride to drinking water for the purpose of preventing tooth decay provides virtually no population-wide margin of safety. Under current circumstances, people should not be essentially forced to drink water treated with fluoride when dental benefits can be achieved through topical application and other means.”
“…the Department of Health’s objectivity is questionable—it funded the British Fluoridation Society, and along with many other supporters of fluoridation it used the York review’s findings selectively to give an overoptimistic assessment of the evidence in favour of fluoridation.”
2006: The Lancet lists fluoride as an “emerging neurotoxic substance”
“…three obvious candidate substances deserve particular attention, including two that have not seemed to cause neurotoxicity in adults.”
“The reason fluoridation continues today is due to forces other than the support of good science behind it.”
2006: The US National Research Council publishes comprehensive review of fluoride toxicity
“On the basis of information largely derived from histological, chemical, and molecular studies, it is apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain and the body by direct and indirect means.”
“We strongly reject the notion that placing a chronic poison in our water supplies is clever preventive medicine.”
2004: Irish Doctors’ Environmental Association – Position Statement
“Fluoride is a potentially toxic chemical and the difference between safe and toxic levels of fluoride is small, even for healthy people.””No other medication is dispensed on the basis of thirst. Dispensing fluoride via drinking water means that the actual daily intake of any individual is unknown.”
2003: International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology – Position Statement
“This current policy position by IAOMT confirms those earlier assessments and asserts that there is no discernible health benefit derived from ingested fluoride and that the preponderance of evidence shows that ingested fluoride in dosages now prevalent in public exposures aggravates existing illnesses, and causes a greater incidence of adverse health effects. Ingested fluoride is hereby recognized as unsafe, and ineffective for the purposes of reducing tooth decay.”
“Studies in animals and human populations suggest that fluoride exposure, at levels that are experienced by a significant proportion of the population whose drinking water is fluoridated, may have adverse impacts on the developing brain. Though no final conclusions may be reached from available data, the findings are provocative and of significant public health concern. Perhaps most surprising is the relative sparseness of data addressing the central question of whether or not this chemical, which is intentionally added to drinking water, may interfere with normal brain development and function. Focused research should address this important matter urgently.”
“A lifetime of excessive fluoride ingestion will undoubtedly have detrimental effects on a number of biological systems in the body and it is illogical to assume that tooth enamel is the only tissue affected by low daily doses of fluoride ingestion.”
“Even if there were a systemic benefit from ingestion of fluoride, it would be miniscule and clinically irrelevant.”