Testing, warnings about fluoride lacking

Recently, government and private institutions advocating water fluoridation lowered the maximum level fluoride to 0.7 ppm. This is down more than 40 percent from 1.2 ppm. The Department of Health and Human Services cited studies showing the rate of dental fluorosis (41 percent) among American teenagers as the factor in changing the dosage.

They did not cite the independent studies suggesting water fluoridation also may cause damage to the liver, kidneys, thyroid, bones, brain and fetus. They also neglected to mention the dilemma that infants are not to consume fluoridated water until age 1.

Ninety percent of Iowa fluoridates its water based on pressure from these institutions. To my knowledge, no hospital in our state relays this information to new mothers who formula feed.

The compound tested in government studies was sodium fluoride. However, 90 percent of municipalities use hexafluorosilicic acid, an untested substance. It is not high purity. It is not manufactured for any reason. It is a by-product of fertilizer manufacturing. It is cheap and usually contains heavy metals.

Last year, our group persuaded the Iowa City Council to re-evaluate its fluoridation policy. Our complaints were health concerns, the environment, aquatic life, costs and safety.

The council chose to side with government recommendations and cited protests from dentists. The ADA has now applauded the lower guidelines.

Our group feels the new guidelines are a promising step but still can't be proven safe and are not properly tested.

Mark Amberg

Iowans for an End to Water Fluoridation

Iowa City