Analysis of Inaccuracies in Community Water Fluoridation PowerPoint

Community Water Fluoridation Power Point Presented to the Health and Social Services and Works Committee Presented by Dr. Patricia Abbey, John Presta, and Hong Ge

Analysis by Free Durham from Fluoride

PDF of Power point: http://www.durham.ca/departments/health/den tal/fluoridationPresentation.pdf

Minutes of Presentation- Page 148:

http://www.durham.ca/extcontent.asp?nr=div&a xion=minagend&listma=minutes&setFooter=/incl udes/councilFooter.inc

Corrections: The fluoride that is added into the water supply is an industrial byproduct called hydrofluorosilicic acid. Even naturally occurring fluoride causes health problems in communities with excess amounts in their water. Fluoride is not a nutrient; we do not suffer from a lack of fluoride in our bodies. If fluoride is to help resist tooth decay, then why are we swallowing it? Many dentists now currently admit that fluoride only works when topical and not systemic.

Corrections: It is very important to research the history of how fluoridation came to be, who proposed water fluoridation, and where this chemical comes from. The history includes the phosphate and aluminum industries and how they took steps to rid themselves of the pollution and waste they were creating. Christopher Bryson, award-winning journalist wrote a book called The Fluoride Deception which outlines the full history of water fluoridation. Here he is in an interview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v= Q3y8uwtxrHo Corrections: These are just endorsers/supports not facts.

Corrections: Once again these are just endorsers/supports not facts. The only opposition they have listed is the Fluoride Action Network (in the previous slide). Having opposition itself and questions regarding the safety of fluoride itself is reason enough to not put it in the water.

Corrections: Health and Social Services and Works Committee had a joint meeting where this power point was shown. Two residents attended and provided their own presentation. These individuals were Misty Oulton and Todd Baron who explained the dangers of fluoride and asked the committee to stop fluoridating Durham Region. This meeting was November 102011 and the minutes can be found on this page: http://www.durham.ca/extcontent. asp?nr=div&axion=minagend&listm a=minutes&setFooter=/includes/co uncilFooter.inc

Corrections: The low amount of inquires indicates that this issue has not been fully brought to the attention of the Durham committees and that not very much pressure has been put on Durham Region about ending water fluoridation. Thank you to those individuals who have sent those emails.

Corrections: These graphs were taken from the Systematic review of water fluoridation from the British Medical Journal (BMJ). You can see the source located at the bottom of the page. Why have they used this synopsis, which is a review of a review of studies? On the website they have used, it is said that are many problems associated with the review such as:
Many studies did not present an analysis at all, while others did not attempt to control for potentially confounding factors. Age, sex, social class, ethnicity, country, tooth type (primary or permanent), mean daily regional temperature, use of fluoride, total fluoride consumption, method of measurement (clinical exam or radiographs, or both), and training of examiners are all possible confounding factors in the assessment of development of dental caries. What this study adds A systematic review of water fluoridation reveals that the quality of the evidence is low. http://www.bmj.com/content/321/726 5/855

Even though this imprecise systematic review shows the decline in dental caries in fluoridated cities, it also reveals that dental fluorosis is highly associated with the concentration of fluoride in the water. Dental fluorosis is the symptom of a body being over exposed to fluoride. Therefore, this study review does not show without a doubt benefits of fluoride, but instead that fluoride should continue to be questioned and tested.

Corrections: It is not very equitable for the low income families who do not want the fluoride in their water and cannot afford water filters. This is instead, unethical since all demographics of Durham Region receive fluoride whether they are aware of fluoride or not and do not consent to its addition. Lastly, it is unethical since everyone regardless of their weight, age, or health, receive different dosages of fluoride depending on how much they drink.

Corrections: Is this really currently economical? Recently Durham has reported that they are going to increase the water and sanitary sewer rates by a combined 8.4 per cent in 2013. These increased rates along with others that may rise too, will accumulate over time, so should not the $200,000 spent on fluoride be put towards the expenses the region needs?

Corrections: We receive the hydrofluosilicic acid from the chemical distributor company Brenntag Canada Inc. The Material Safety Data Sheet from this company outlines the following: Toxic and corrosive Product Use: Glass manufacturing, chemical intermediate, laboratory reagent Fluoride is a bone seeker, and excessive amounts will produce weakening and degeneration of the bone structure This document also reports other health effects from fluoride, including fluorosis and how excess amounts weaken tooth enamel in children. You can find this document on the Anti-Fluoride Durham facebook page who obtained this document through a request of information email. http://www.facebook.com/AntiFluo rideDurham

Corrections: Here is the 2011 Annual Water Quality Reports Archives: http://www.durham.ca/works.asp? nr=/departments/works/reports/an nualwaterreports2011.htm&setFoo ter=/includes/worksFooter.inc

Corrections: The systematic review they included is flawed in many ways such as how they excluded animal and toxicological studies in their review. Many of the studies in the York Review have been criticized and many leave out major studies illustrating the negative effects of fluoride. See Professor Trevor A. Sheldon statement, Chair of the Reviews Advisory Group. He wrote the following in order to correct the errors being carried on about this review: http://www.fluoridealert.org/conte nt/sheldon-york-review/

Corrections: It is known that fluoride accumulates in the bones and in the brain. Fluoride can contribute to cause every illness highlighted in the points on this slide. Health effects can be found on the Fluoride Action Network:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/issues /health/

Corrections: If a question was asked to residents as to if they know what fluoride is, it will show the awareness levels that are out there. When people answered with not sure, is it because they were undecided as to support it or not, or that they do not know what fluoride is? These questions need to be answered. Report: http://www.durham.ca/departmen ts/health/health_statistics/rrfss/Wa terFluoridation.pdf

This is the last slide.

Why is a reference page not included? If a power point is available on the Durham website, a page citing the resources should be required for the public.