Fluoride dumbing down a generation of NZ kids?

Fluoride dumbing down a generation of NZ kids?

This story has been edited

Just as a deficiency of iodine reduces intelligence by reducing thyroid function, as recently publicised, so too does too much fluoride. This is the finding of 23 published studies from China, many recently translated into English – by an average of 4 to 5 IQ points. Although seemingly small, this shift significantly increases the number of severely intellectually retarded children.

The harm from fluoride, added by a minority of local councils to New Zealand water supplies in the belief it reduces tooth decay, is accentuated in people with iodine deficiency according to the leading international review, in 2006 – a double whammy.

In fact, fluoride, also added to toothpaste, has been used medically to deliberately reduce (overactive) thyroid function. So what is it doing to a normally active thyroid? “It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure that out” responds Mark Atkin, Fluoridation-free NZ Coalition representative.

China has naturally high levels of fluoride in some areas, hence the Chinese take health dangers posed by fluoride seriously, “unlike fluoridation pushers in the West” asserts Mr Atkin. But total intake is reaching similar levels in western fluoridated countries. Most at risk are bottle fed infants – who get 250 times more fluoride than nature intended if fluoridated water is used to mix the formula, advises Mr Atkin.

“Both fluoridated water, and swallowed fluoride toothpaste, pose health risks to children. While child-strength toothpaste is available, to minimise risk, organisations such as the Ministry of Health, Plunket, and the NZ Dental Association tell parents to ignore warnings, give adult strength toothpaste to their children, and not rinse off the surplus but leave it on the teeth to be absorbed or swallowed. This is irresponsible to the point of criminal negligence” says Mr Atkin, a qualified lawyer, adding “law suits are being prepared in the USA and Australia – it is only a matter of time for NZ – just like Agent Orange claims.”

1995 research showed that swallowed toothpaste can cause ‘spike’ levels of fluoride in the blood shown to cause nerve damage in laboratory rats. Fluoride was also identified as “an emerging neurotoxin” (in relation to children) in the medical journal Lancet in 2007.

“Yet the Ministry of Health continues to bury its head in the sand and repeat, like a stuck record, “fluoride is safe and effective, safe and effective …” (if we say it often enough wearing a white coat people will believe us)” notes Mr Atkin.

ENDS

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