Water Fluoridation Presentation to Irish Doctors Environmental Association Nov 2014

WATER FLUORIDATION

In the Republic of Ireland

Declan Waugh

Environmental Scientist, Fluoride Researcher

and Risk Management Consultant

According to most dental health professionals, the media and many politicians in Ireland their view is that opponents of water fluoridation are quack scientists , conspiracy theorists and folklorists.

Included among those opposed to fluoridation of water

are some of the leading experts in medicine, neurology, chemistry,

pharmacology, toxicology and risk assessment.

Just a few examples include:

The Principles of Water Fluoridation For Dummies

Step 1.

Before you commence a mass fluoridation programme determine

the total exposure of the population to fluoride from all dietary

sources, including beverages, foods and medications.

Step 2.

If population or subgroups of population have a high fluoride

intake from other sources do not expose them to further risk by

artificially fluoridating the public water supply.

WHAT IS ONE’S

EXPOSURE

TO

FLUORIDE?

Ref: WHO. Water, Sanitation and Health: Guidelines for

Drinking Water Quality, Health Criteria and Other

Supporting Information, 2nd edn., Vol. 2, World Health

Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1996 pp. 231–237.

“Levels of daily exposure to fluoride

depend on the geographical area, if

diets contain tea, exposure may be

particularly high (WHO, 1996).”

EXAMPLES OF CURRENT PEER REVIEWED

PUBLISHED HUMAN EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT

OF FLUORIDE

The UK supermarket economy teas contained elevated

fluoride, ranging from 3.60 to 7.96 mg/L.

This study used ultra-pure de-ionised water in the infusion

preparation. In some areas of the UK, drinking water is

artificially fluoridated to approximately 1 mg/L, as in the case

of Severn Trent Water supply to Birmingham.

“This study indicates fluoride concentrations can

exceed the recommended Dietary Reference Intake

(DRI) of 4 mg/day, in certain tea commodities,

under the minimal brewing time of 2 min.”

“Considering these case studies, fluoride

concentrations found in the present study could lead

to detrimental health conditions in a human,

especially if consuming in excess of a litre of the

Economy branded tea per day.”

“The population who are socio-economically disadvantaged

and use economy labeled foods are at more of a risk from

higher exposure to fluoride from these tea brands.”

“Most of the fluoride was released into the tea infusion is

available for absorption by the human system and can partly

or completely fulfill the recommended DRI of 4 mg/day for

an adult.”

“All tea products should be considered as a main source of

fluoride in the diet. Supermarkets and manufacturers of tea

should consider stating fluoride concentration as part of the

nutritional information found on food packaging.”

“The mean fluoride concentrations in leaf tea, bagged tea, and

packaged tea ranged from 5.37-25.7 mg/l”

“Most of the intake concentrations in those samples exceeded 4

mg/ l F, the lower bound of fluoride levels reported in the

literatures to be associated with a lower IQ in children and a

higher risk of bone fracture.”

“Some elderly people take tea as their major fluid intake instead of water.

Their fluoride intake from tea would very likely exceed Allowable Daily Intake (ADI).”

“For bagged and packaged tea, drinking one 900ml bagged tea per day would

bring fluoride intakes close to the estimated ADIs.”

“Children who are taking one 300 ml of certain tea beverages per week would consume

a sufficient fluoride close to ADIs.”

“The optimal level for water fluoridation to prevent dental caries is between 0.7 and

1.2 mg/L. The intake fluoride concentrations of tea samples were all much higher

(4–41 times ) than the optimal level.”

“Recently, the Taiwan government has been considering adding fluoride to the drinking

water to prevent dental caries. Due to the high accessibility of tea drinks in Taiwan, it is

very likely that sufficient fluoride is obtained from tea drinks and other sources such as

toothpaste. Caution must be taken to carry out water fluoridation in Taiwan in order

to avoid side effects.”

A total of 52 tea specimens were purchased from tea stores, and a total of 208 infusion

samples were collected. All tea samples were prepared with de-ionized water.

Among six kinds of tea, black tea had the highest fluoride concentrations (8.64 +/- 2.96mg/l).

Influence of Sugar on Black Tea Drinks

“The average fluoride in infusions with any amounts of sugar (one to four sachets)

4.22 +/- 0.48mg were about twice of those in infusions without sugar (2.10+/- 0.22mg).

“Our results suggest that adding sugar increases the fluoride infusion from

black tea leaves and the excess infusion occurs primarily in the first few minutes.”

Some people use 500 ml mugs to drink tea and it is easy to purchase tea drinks with

500–600ml in local stores in Taiwan. Therefore, 20 l/week is used as a reasonable estimation

of Taiwanese Reasonable Maximum Exposure (RME) to represent a plausible worst case

Scenario for tea consumption.

“The mean tea intake per capita for adults in Canada, the US, and England are 1.5–3, 0.8–

1.2, and 4–4.5 l/week. Tea lovers in the UK who drink more than the average amounts

should be cautious about the potential dental and skeletal fluorosis.”

Furthermore, tea drinkers who like stronger tea brew the

tea for a longer period of time (each round 42.5min) or

use more tea leaves. More fluoride would be infused in

drinks with a longer preparation time and with more tea

leaves; thus, those tea lovers would consume more

fluoride than these reported here.

Besides, this work was conducted with de-ionized

water; and fluoride concentrations in the drinking

water of Taiwan are from less than 0.01 to 0.28mg/l.

Thus, fluoride intakes in actual tea drinking would be

higher than the current estimations.

“Recently, the Taiwan government has been considering

adding fluoride to drinking water to prevent dental

caries. However, due to the high accessibility of tea

drinks in Taiwan, it is very likely that sufficient

fluoride is already obtained from tea drinks and

other sources such as toothpaste. Caution should be

taken in carrying out water fluoridation in Taiwan in

order to avoid side effects.”

The European Food Safety Authority who reported that if fluoridated water were drunk and used for the preparation of food and tea (1-2 L of water/day; 500 mL of tea (2 cups) with a fluoride concentration of 5 mg/L) 3.5 to 4.0 mg fluoride would be added to the daily dietary intake of an individual compared to consumers living in non-fluoridated areas . The EFSA reported that in fluoridated communities the dietary intake could be 6.0 mg fluoride per day, without fluoride from toothpaste taken into account , and that even more extreme scenarios are possible and not completely unrealistic.

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the Commission related to the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Fluoride, The EFSA Journal (2005) 192, 1-65, published on 7 June 2006.

North/South Ireland Food Consumption

Survey

Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance ,

2001.

“Ireland has the highest per capita

consumption of tea in the world

with an average consumption per

person of four cups every day,

i.e. a total of 5.2 billion cups per

annum”.

In Ireland, 91% of adults aged 18-64 years are tea

consumers, with a mean daily intake of tea of

619ml/day and a 95th percentile intake of

1259ml/day. This also means that 5% of adults

drink more than 1.25 Litres of tea per day.

In 2011, according to a report

by the Irish Food Safety

Authority the average total

fluoride intake from all sources,

including food and water for the

average adult consumer in the

ROI, who consume fluoridated

water as well as fluoridated

foodstuffs and other beverages

is just 1.88 -2.09 mg/day.

There is more than a

TEN FOLD difference in

the FSAI reported

fluoride content of tea,

compared to all

published international

data.

Remarkably, the FSAI

reported a fluoride level

in tea that is significantly

less than what is present

in fluoridated tap water!

The sample was taken not

by a staff member of the

FSAI but by a unnamed

staff member from the

Dental School at

University College Cork.

No chain of control or

quality control records

documenting the type or

brand of tea or any other

data are available . No

duplicate samples were

tested.

The dietary fluoride

exposure of the Irish

population from tea

consumption was

based on analysis of a

single tea bag, from

an undocumented

brand of tea.

From this, the Irish Food

Safety Authority estimated

that the average total

fluoride intake from all

sources, including food and

water for average adult

consumers in the ROI ,

who consumes fluoridated

water, as well as

fluoridated foodstuffs, is

just 1.88 - 2.09 mg/day.

This is equal to the

total fluoride intake

from drinking a single

cup of tea and nothing

else.

In addition no data

was provided by

the FSAI in their

risk assessment for

fluoride exposure

from medications

or fluoride

exposure from

dental restorative

materials used in

dentistry.

Fluoride level measured with fluoride ion specific electrode using TISAB reagents and certified fluoride standards

FLUORIDE IN PLASMA

Cowell and Taylor (1981) reported that the mean

serum ionic fluoride concentrations in 497 normal

individuals, from areas with non-fluoridated water

supplies was 0.31 μmol/L.

When water is fluoridated at the WHO-recommended

levels, the range of plasma fluoride concentration is

usually 1–6uM. (Husdan et al., 1976; Singer and

Ophaug, 1979).

Dental fluorosis occurs at chronic low plasma fluoride

levels of 2-12 uM/L (Bronckers et al, 2009)

Singh et al.(2014) also reported a significant relationship

water fluoride-serum fluoride in children residing in areas

with varying levels of fluoride in drinking water. In the latter

study, among control children without dental fluorosis

residing in an area where their drinking water had a fluoride

level of just 0.98-1.0ppm/L, the serum fluoride levels ranged

from 1.05 μM to 4.7 μM.

It was reported that 50% of children had elevated or

abnormal serum fluoride levels.

Among the children residing in areas with water fluoride

levels ranging from 1.6-5.5ppm the serum fluoride levels

ranged from 1.05-40 μM. Singh et al.(2014) A comparative study of fluoride ingestion levels, serum thyroid hormone & TSH

level derangements, dental fluorosis status among school children from endemic and non-endemic

fluorosis areas.

Susheela et al. (2005) measured water fluoride

and serum fluoride levels among children living

in communities with both low and high levels

of fluoride in drinking water. In the control

group with a mean fluoride level in drinking

water of 0.23mg/L (range 0.14-0.81mg/L), the

serum fluoride levels ranged from 1.05-7.3μM

Ekstrand et al. (1994) reported that when

children were given a fluoride supplement of

0.25mg the mean plasma peak concentration

was 3.3uM/L.

Importantly, the United States National

Academies (2006) noted that impaired

glucose metabolism appears to be

associated with serum or plasma fluoride

concentrations of about 5 µmol/litre or

greater in humans.

The U.S National Academies further reported that in

humans effects on thyroid function were associated

with fluoride exposures of 0.05-0.13 mg/kg/day

when iodine intake was adequate and 0.01-0.03

mg/kg/day when iodine intake was inadequate .

This exposure equates to a total dietary fluoride

intake of between 0.7 - 3.5mg per day at which

thyroid function may be impaired.

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Person living in non fluoridatedcommunity with low fluoride

intake

Person living in community withfluoridated water fluoride

Fluoride toothpaste Fluoride tablets (0.5mg)

Plasma Fluoride levels measured in micromoles/litre

Above 5um can lead to glucose intolerance

3.63 4.5 5.3 6.3 11.2 17 25 25

35

51

79

187

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

Plasma Fluoride levels after exposure to fluoride toothpaste, low dose fluoride tablets, fluoride varnish and fluoridated medications

and anesthetics After administration of Sevoflurane the typical range in normal healthy adults is around 60µmoles. For persons with genetic susceptibility to fluoride, plasma fluoride levels will be significantly higher as they are unable to properly metabolise fluoride resulting in elevated plasma levels. The high plasma level of 187µmoles was present in Such an individual.

Susheela AK, Bhatnagar M, Vig K., Mondald NK. Excess Fluoride Ingestion And Thyroid Hormone

Derangements In Children Living In Delhi, India. Fluoride 2005;38(2):98–108 Research report

THYROID FUNCTION AND FLUORIDE

In 2005, Professor Sushella et al. published the findings of a study

examining the effect of fluoride exposure on thyroid function in

children.

The drinking water fluoride of the control I group ranged from 0.14

to 0.81 mg F–/L (mean 0.23 mg F–/L) and that of the control II group

(n = 11) ranged from 0.14 to 0.73 mg F–/L (mean 0.41 mg F–/L).

IMPORTANTLY, THE LEVEL OF FLUORIDE WAS LESS THAN

WHAT IS PRESENTED IN ARTIFICIALLY FLUORIDATED

DRINKING WATER IN IRELAND.

In control I, only 30% of children had serum fluoride below the normal

upper limit of 0.02 mg F–/L. The remaining children, even though they

were consuming “safe” water, had elevated serum fluoride.

In control II, less than 10% of children had serum fluoride below the

normal upper limit. The remaining children who were tested also had

elevated serum fluoride.

Excess Fluoride was coming from other

sources other than water including

medications and dietary sources.

The majority of children 54% had well defined thyroid hormonal derangements. The

findings indicate that children with or even without dental fluorosis from exposure to

excess fluoride, either through drinking water or through other sources, may have

thyroid hormone derangements that may not be clinically overt until late stages.

“Withdrawal from fluoride sources along with measures to correct the thyroid

hormonal status may be necessary to promote better health in such children.”

“Our findings further strengthen the possibility that fluoride is often responsible

for thyroid hormone alterations normally ascribed to Iodine deficiency disorder.”

“The role of excess fluoride in aggravating health problems in children by inducing

iodine deficiency disorders appears to be either overlooked or has remained largely

unnoticed.”



“Iodine supplementation may not be adequate to reduce IDD

when excess fluoride is being consumed. Removal of fluoride

from ingestion needs to precede iodine supplementation. The

present study, in the light of the observations made, questions the

validity of fluoridation of drinking water, milk, fruit juices, and

salt by public health authorities in the uncertain hope of

preventing dental caries. The damage these programs are

causing to the well-being of the children is perhaps

unquantifiable.”



Fluoride when ingested into the human body alters virtually all known intracellular signalling pathways and is known to inhibit or stimulate a wide variety of metabolic enzymes as well as alter protein metabolism. In this example we will examine the effect of fluoride on just one protein Osteocalin, which is produced by Osteoblasts in bone cells.

OSTEOCALIN A bone protein synthesized by

osteoblastic cells.

FLUORIDE EXPOSURE AT LOW DOSE LEVELS STIMULATES INCREASED PRODUCTION OF OSTEOCALIN

Early onset Puberty

Insulin resistance

Glucose intolerance

Calcification of Arteries & Cardiovascular disease

Osteoarthritis

Prostate Cancer

Metastatic Bone Tumours

Leukaemia Downs syndrome

Several studies have found that fluoride exposure causes an increase in serum osteocalin (OC) levels in humans.

Dandona P., Coumar A., Gill D. S., Bell J. and Thomas M. Sodium Fluoride Stimulates Osteocalcin In Normal Subjects, Clinical Endocrinology (1 988), 29,437-44 1. Battmann A., Resch H., Libanati C. R., Ludy D., Fischer M., Farley S. and. Baylink D. J Serum Fluoride and Serum Osteocalein Levels in Response to a Novel Sustained-Release Monofluorophosphate Preparation: Comparison with Plain Monofluorophosphate. Osteoporosis Int (1997) 7:48-51 Ma J., L Mi., Song Y., Tu J., Liu F., Liu K, Serum osteocalcin and calcitonin in adult males with different fluoride exposures. Research report Fluoride 42(2)133–136 April-June 2009 Hung H, Ba Y, Cui L, et al. COLIA2 gene polymorphisms (Pvu II and RSA I), serum calcitropic hormone levels, and dental fluorosis. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2008; 36:517-522 Ba Y, Zhu JY, Yang YJ, Yu B, Huang H, Wang G, Ren LJ, Cheng XM, Cui LX, Zhang YW. Serum calciotropic hormone levels, and dental fluorisis in children exposed to different concentrations of fluoride and iodine in drinking water. Chin Med J (Engl). 2010 Mar 20;123(6):675-9. Srivastava RN, Gill DS, Moudgil A, Menon RK, Thomas M, Dandona P. Normal ionized calcium, parathyroid hypersecretion, and elevated osteocalcin in a family with fluorosis. Metabolism. 1989 Feb;38(2):120-4.

Battman et al.(1997) reported that fluoride is a potent stimulator of osteoblastic proliferation and demonstrated that serum Osteocalin levels increase significantly in response to increasing serum fluoride levels. In this study a modest 5 μM reduction in serum fluoride levels resulted in a 15-30% reduction in OC levels within 2 months.

Battmann A., Resch H., Libanati C. R., Ludy D., Fischer M., Farley S. and. Baylink D. J Serum Fluoride and Serum Osteocalein Levels in Response to a Novel Sustained-Release Monofluorophosphate Preparation: Comparison with Plain Monofluorophosphate. Osteoporosis Int (1997) 7:48-51

Kalichman L, Kobyliansky E. Radiographic hand osteoarthritis and serum levels of osteocalcin: cross-sectional study. Rheumatol Int. 2010 Jun;30(8):1131-5. doi: 10.1007/s00296-010-1372-y. Epub 2010 Feb 16.

Kalichman and Kobyliansky (2010) reported that elevated Osteocalin has been identified as a risk factor for osteoarthritis

Gardner et al. (2009) found that OC levels are elevated in in metastatic bone tumours, including prostate tumours.

Gardner TA, Lee SJ, Lee SD, Li X, Shirakawa T, Kwon DD, Park RY, Ahn KY, Jung C. Differential expression of osteocalcin during the metastatic progression of prostate cancer. Oncol Rep. 2009 Apr;21(4):903-8.

Ou et al. (2003) reported that OC expression is associated with prostate cancer (PC) and PC metastasis to lymph node and bone as well as was hormone-refractory prostate cancer.

Ou YC, Chen JT, Yang CR, Ko JL, Hsieh YS, Kao C. Expression of osteocalcin in prostate cancer before and after hormonal therapy. Anticancer Res. 2003 Sep-Oct;23(5A):3807-11.

Karsenty (2012) reported that disturbances in OC production by the skeleton is not only associated with fertility disorders in men, but also with high risk of prostate cancer [a].

[a]Translational Endocrinology of Bone. Reproduction, Metabolism, and the Central Nervous System, ed. Gerard Karsenty, Academic Press, 2012, ISBN : 9780124157842

Nimptsch et al. (2009) found an increased risk of advanced-stage and high-grade prostate cancer was linked with higher serum osteocalin and suggested that a boost of the bioactive form of osteocalin might be related to progression of prostate malignancies.

Nimptsch K, Rohrmann S, Nieters A, Linseisen J. Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin as biomarker of vitamin K intake and risk of prostate cancer: a nested case-control study in the Heidelberg cohort of the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Jan;18(1):49-56. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0554.

Patti et al. (2013) reported that Osteocalin increases insulin secretion and sensitivity in humans.

Patti A, Gennari L, Merlotti D, Dotta F, and Nuti R. Endocrine Actions of Osteocalcin, International Journal of Endocrinology, Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 846480, 10 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/846480

Aoki et al. (2011) found that circulating Osteocalin is increased in subjects with glucose intolerance or early stage diabetes.

Aoki A., Muneyuki T., Yoshida M, Munakata H., Ishikawa S, Sugawara H, Kawakami M, Kakeiemail M., Circulating osteocalcin is increased in early-stage diabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Volume 92, Issue 2, Pages 181–186, May 2011

Holvik et al.(2014) found that elevated OC was associated with an increased risk of CVD in older women.

Holvik K, van Schoor NM, Eekhoff EM, den Heijer M, Deeg DJ, Lips P, de Jongh R. Plasma osteocalcin levels as a predictor of cardiovascular disease in older men and women: a population-based cohort study. Eur J Endocrinol. 2014 Aug;171(2):161-70. doi: 10.1530/EJE-13-1044. Epub 2014 May 6.

Lee et al (2007) and Ferron et al. (2008) reported that Osteocalin acts directly on the β-cells in the pancreas to increase insulin secretion, and at the same time influences fat cells to release the hormone adiponectin, which increases sensitivity to insulin.

[a] Lee NK, Sowa H, Hinoi E, Ferron M, Ahn JD, Confavreux C, Dacquin R, Mee PJ, McKee MD, Jung DY, Zhang Z, Kim JK, Mauvais-Jarvis F, Ducy P, Karsenty G (August 2007). "Endocrine regulation of energy metabolism by the skeleton". Cell 130 (3): 456–69. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2007.05.047. PMC 2013746. PMID 17693256 [b] Ferron M., Hinoi E., Karsenty G., and Ducy P., “Osteocalcin differentially regulates β cell and adipocyte gene expression and affects the development of metabolic diseases in wild-type mice,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 105, no. 13, pp. 5266–5270, 2008.

Alfadda et al.(2013) also found that higher OC was associated with metabolic syndrome and therefore might influence the risk of cardiovascular disease in humans.

Alfadda A.A., Masood A, Shaik S.A, Dekhil H, and Goran M.,Association between Osteocalcin, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Role of Total and Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. International Journal of Endocrinology Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 197519, 6 pages

Yeap et al. (2012) in a prospective analysis on 3542 adult men aged between 70 and 90 years, reported that higher OC predicted cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality.

Yeap B. B., Chubb S.A. P., Flicker L., McCaul K. A., Ebeling P. R., Hankey G. J., Beilby J. P., Norman P. E. Associations of total osteocalcin with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in older men. The Health In Men Study. Osteoporosis International, February 2012, Volume 23, Issue 2, pp 599-606

Garcia et al. (2012) reported that elevated Osteocalin was associated with higher prevalence of carotid plaques, aortic calcification, and increased intima-media thickness.

R. Reyes-Garcia, P. Rozas-Moreno, J. J. Jimenez-Moleon et al., “Relationship between serum levels of osteocalcin and atherosclerotic disease in type 2 diabetes,” Diabetes & Metabolism, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 76–81, 2012

Galli and Ganigga (1987) found that patients with Downs syndrome had significantly elevated levels of Osteocalin compared to normal children.

Galli M., Ganiggia I. Serum levels of osteocalin in normal children and Down’s Syndrome. Paeiatrics, Pan. Med, 29, 139-142, 1987

Takahashi et al. (2001) published findings in the Journal of Epidemiology

which reported a significant association between water fluoridation and cancer.

Takahashi and research associates undertook regression analysis of cancer incident

rates and water fluoridation in the USA, comparing fluoridated and non fluoridated

states. Of the 36 cancer sites in males and females examined 23 (69%) were

significantly associated with water fluoridation. Among them were cancer of

the colon, brain, pancreas, liver, kidney, gallbladder, urinary bladder, ovarian,

bone, Hodgkin's diseases and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma and

leukaemia.

The reason given for the higher cancer incidence rates in fluoridated communities

was the extended presence of fluoride in plasma and urine and the infusion of

fluoride into the brain and other organs.

“This atlas shows major variations,

sometimes more than two-fold, in

the risk of many cancers across the

island.”

“ The relative risk of developing

many of the cancers presented here

was higher in RoI than in NI. The

risk of non-melanoma skin cancer,

melanoma, leukaemia, bladder,

pancreas and brain/central nervous

system cancer was significantly

higher for both sexes in RoI. For men, the risk of prostate cancer

was higher in RoI and, for women,

cancer of the oesophagus and

cervix.”

Leukaemia

“The risk of leukaemia was 23% higher for men and 17%

higher for women in the ROI than in NI. There was a

markedly higher risk of leukaemia in RoI than in NI, a

surprising finding given the low level of international

variation in Europe.”

Prostate cancer

“The risk of diagnosis of prostate cancer was 29% higher in the ROI than in NI.”

Bladder cancer

“Bladder cancer risk was 8% higher for men and 14% higher for women in the

ROI than in NI.”

Melanoma of the skin

“Melanoma risk was 8% higher for men & 14% higher for women in the ROI than NI.”

NON MELANOMA SKIN CANCER

Non-melanoma skin cancer was 18% higher in women and 15% higher in men in RoI

than in NI.

KIDNEY CANCER

During 1995-2007, the number of new cases diagnosed showed an overall increase of

approximately 6% per annum in RoI; the rate of increase in NI was 3%.

OESOPHAGEAL CANCER

The risk was 8% higher for women in the ROI than in NI.

PANCREATIC CANCER

Pancreatic cancer risk was 22% higher for Females and 12%

higher for males in the ROI than in NI.

CANCER OF THE CERVIX UTERI

The risk of cancer of the cervix was significantly higher, by 11%, in RoI than NI.

BRAIN AND OTHER CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CANCER

The risk of brain and CNS cancer was 20% higher for females and 10% higher for

males in ROI than in NI.

CERVICAL CANCER

The risk of cervical cancer was 10% higher in the ROI than in NI.

Most of the areas with low risk for prostate cancer are communities with non-fluoridated water supplies.

“The proximity of the two countries

in Ireland would suggest that

there shouldn’t be too much

variation in levels of

different cancers between

the two countries. However

some statistically significant

differences in incidence rates

(EASIR) exist with rates lower in

Northern Ireland than Republic

of Ireland for pancreatic cancer,

bladder cancer, cancer of the

brain, leukaemia, male colorectal

cancer, female breast cancer,

female melanoma, prostate

cancer and cervical cancer.”

ROI &NI Cancer Trends:

Females For females colorectal and cervical

cancer decreased between 1994 and

2004 in Northern Ireland but remained

static in Republic of Ireland.

Female liver cancer, kidney cancer,

lymphoma and lung cancer all

increased in Republic of Ireland but

remained STATIC in Northern

Ireland.

Among females rates of new cases

diagnosed increased significantly

between for liver cancer, lung cancer,

melanoma, breast cancer, cancer of

the uterus, kidney cancer and

lymphoma.

ROI &NI Cancer Trends:

Males “Between 1994 and 2004 cancer rates

decreased for males aged 0-49 in Northern

Ireland and increased in Republic of

Ireland.”

“For males rates of new cases diagnosed

increased significantly between 1994 and

2004 for liver cancer, melanoma, prostate

cancer (1997-2004 only), testicular cancer,

kidney cancer, lymphoma and leukaemia.”

“For males liver cancer, kidney cancer,

lymphoma and leukaemia

all increased in Republic of Ireland

while remaining static in Northern

Ireland.”

“For the majority of cancers

rates are lower in Northern

Ireland than Republic of

Ireland. The differences in

cancer rates are significant

for colorectal cancer in

males, cancer of the

pancreas, bladder, brain and

leukaemia in both sexes and

cervical cancer in women.”

Cancer Mortality

“Mortality was generally

higher in Republic of

Ireland, with male rates

3.9% and female rates

3.6% lower in Northern

Ireland.”

The National Cancer Registry

of Ireland and the Northern

Ireland Cancer Registry

reported that between 1994

and 2004 “incidence rates for

chronic lymphocytic

(lymphoblastic) leukaemia

were 53.5% higher for males

and 53.1% higher for

females in the RoI compared

to NI.”

According to the National Cancer Registry Ireland (2007) the highest incidence rates

for male leukaemia globally are to be found in :

New Zealand,

USA,

Australia,

Canada and

the Republic of Ireland

No reference is made to the fact that fluoridation of water is practiced in EACH of

these countries.

The National Cancer Registry Ireland and the Northern Ireland

Cancer Registry (2009) reported that “while the world age-

standardised incidence rates of leukaemia in NI are

comparable to the European Union; rates for the ROI are

significantly higher than those in European Union or the UK”

Nowhere does it mention however, that the ROI is the only

country in the EU with a policy of mandatory fluoridation of

its population.

The highest cancer incidence in Europe is found in the ROI and the Czech Republic. National Water fluoridation programmes only ever existed in two European countries in Europe, in the ROI and the Czech Republic. Fluoridation of water commenced in the Czech Republic in 1958 and ceased with independence from the USSR in 1988. The ROI is now the only country in the EU with a mandatory national water fluoridation policy.

Comparison of Cancer incidence for RoI and European Region

Global incidence of Cancer

The provinces in Canada with the lowest level of fluoridation have the lowest prevalence of prostate cancer

Highest prevalence of Prostate cancer in Finland Are to be found in communities with high natural levels of fluoride in water.

The Institute of Public Health’s All-

Ireland study (2001) documented

significantly increased mortality

from chronic disease in the RoI

compared to NI.

Significantly increased mortality

was reported for endocrine

disorders, immune disorders,

neurological disorders, metabolic

disorders, hormone related cancers,

musculoskeletal diseases and bone

diseases such as arthritis in the ROI

than in NI.

The extraordinary differences in mortality for

these diseases between the two regions suggests

an association with fluoride intoxication, however

no mention was made of the fact that the ROI is

fluoridated.

Diabetes mellitus (ICD-9 250) 1989-1998

“The directly standardised

mortality rate for persons was

significantly higher in the

RoI than it was in NI

(372% higher).”

Endocrine, nutritional

and metabolic diseases (ICD-9 240-278) 1989-1998


mortality rate for persons

was significantly higher in

the RoI than it was in NI

(245% higher).”

Sudden infant death

syndrome (ICD-9 798.0) 1989-1998





(210% higher).”

Rheumatoid arthritis

and osteoarthritis

(ICD-9 714-715) 1989-

1998





(166% higher).”

Diseases of the blood and

blood-forming organs,

immunological disorders

(ICD-9 279-289) 1989-1998





(148% higher).”

Diseases of the

musculoskeletal

system/connective tissue

(ICD-9 710-739) 1989-

1998





(122% higher).”

Mental and behavioural

disorders

(ICD-9 290-319) 1989-1998





(53% higher).”

Diseases of the nervous

system and the sense organs

(ICD-9 320-389) 1989-1998





(47% higher).”

Note : These figures differ from previous illustrations as they are reported crude Rates.

The differences in mortality between the lowest and the highest socio-economic population in NI and the RoI are extraordinary. In every disease or disorder significantly higher mortality was reported in the ROI.

As infant exposure to fluoride Increased from 1980 onwards in the USA, due to changes in infant feeding practices, Childhood asthma rates doubled and infant mortality from asthma increased Three Fold.

As infant exposure to fluoride Increased from 1980 onwards in the USA, the prevalence of dental fluorosis doubled along with childhood diabetes and obesity. In addition childhood cancers Increased and childhood neurological disorders increased to unprecedented levels

From 1980 onwards, as childhood infant exposure increased dramatically, the prevalence of Hepatic (liver) and Teratoma (ovarian) cancer s in female infants under 1 year of age increased by 600%. The prevalence of cancer of the nervous system among male infants under 1 year of age increased by 280% and neuroblastoma cancer increased by 50%. Significant increases Were also reported for Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Leukaemia and Brain and central nervous system cancers.

Breast cancer incidence has also increased in parallel with increased fluoridation of public water supplies in the USA.

Fluoride is a pulmonary toxin. As childhood exposure to fluoride increased with changing infant feeding practices, the prevalence of childhood asthma increased to unprecedented levels in every country or community with water fluoridation programmes. Increases were most pronounced in populations with low prevalence of breast feeding.

Currently the highest prevalence of asthma in Europe is to be found in the Republic of Ireland. Asthma is the most common and fastest growing chronic disease in the RoI and almost €500 million is directly spent on asthma care every year. The Republic of Ireland has the highest hospitalization rate for asthma for boys and girls among European counties. The RoI also has one of the highest mortality rates from asthma in Europe.

Pediatric Asthma

46,363 bed days

used over ten year

study period

Most common age group – 0-4 years

In 2007, there was a 30% decline in hospital admissions for asthma

among children under 15 years of age in the ROI.

The largest decline observed among children aged 0-4years.

What the report failed to note was that in mid 2007,

the concentration of fluoride added to Irish Drinking

Water was reduced by 30 per cent.

The most effected by this reduction are children under

4 years of age.

The same year water fluoride levels reduced paediatric

asthma hospitalizations fell by the largest percentage

in recent history. The percentage decline was 27%.

It’s not just respiratory disease that increased post fluoridation. Deaths from cardiovascular disease increased significantly in the immediate period post fluoridation in the Republic of Ireland

Similar to Ireland, it was documented that mortality from cardiovascular disease increased significantly in Grand Rapids and Newburgh post commencement of fluoridation

“The main conclusion of our study is that chronic kidney disease is

aggravated even by low concentrations of fluoride, which in turn

accelerates medial vascular calcification.”

“In summary, the effects of fluoride on renal function and vascular health

are more complicated than expected. Our findings could help to decide whether

the use of fluoride to improve the dental health of the population through

indiscriminate practices, such as adding it to municipal drinking water, should be

reconsidered and should be replaced by a fluoridation policy based on the

health status of individuals.”

“Medial vascular calcification (MAC) in an increasingly recognized problem in patients

with diabetes and patients with chronic kidney disease. Calcification of the

media is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.”

Ref: Al-Aly Z. Medial vascular calcification in diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney

disease: the role of inflammation. Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets. 2007 Mar;7(1):1-6.

“Medial vascular calcification is associated with cardiovascular mortality, coronary

heart disease (CHD) events, stroke, and lower extremity amputation in patients

with non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.”

“MAC leads to the stiffening of the elastic layer of the arterial wall.”

“In newly diagnosed patients with Non–Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus MAC is the

most powerful predictive marker of future cardiovascular mortality even after adjustment for

cardiovascular risk factors.”

Ref: Lehto S, et al. A Neglected Harbinger of Cardiovascular Complications in Non–Insulin-Dependent

Diabetes Mellitus, Medial Artery Calcification, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.

1996; 16: 978-983

In ending, can Ireland learn anything from our European neighbours?

How Sweden changed its policy to end water

fluoridation

The research group around Dr. Anders Thylstrup, Dr. Gillberg, Dr.

Jan Sallstrom, Dr Agnetha Sallstrom and Dr Avid Carlson (Nobel

Laureate-2001) revealed that the Government experts of the National

Board of Health and Welfare who were advocating fluoridation of

water were both ignorant concerning basic

physiological knowledge and were bluffing with

statistics on caries reduction and fluorosis; following

their presentation of scientific facts the decision process turned against water

fluoridation in Sweden.

Sweden also rejected fluoridation on the

recommendation of a special Fluoride

Commission, which included among its

reasons that: "The combined and long-

term environmental effects of fluoride are

insufficiently known."

Source: Report of Swedish Fluoride

Commission. Stockholm 1981.

Health & Medicine

Water Fluoridation Presentation to Irish Doctors Environmental Association Nov 2014