Eleven EPA employee unions have called for a moratorium on drinking water fluoridation programs. They have further asked EPA management to recognize fluoride as posing a serious cancer risk.
The unions acted in response to an apparent cover-up of evidence from the Harvard School of Dental Medicine connecting fluoridation with a seven-fold increased risk of the fatal bone cancer osteosarcoma. The unions also cited other results similar to those in the Harvard study, and recent work that links the use of silicofluoride fluoridating agents with increased lead levels in water. Fluoridation of public water supplies began after World War II in order to fight tooth decay. Decades later, health concerns arose as cities began reporting increased bone deformities.About 145 million American citizens regularly drink fluoridated water.The unions' position is online here.
For decades, the U.S. government has been telling the American public that fluoride is safe and beneficial. But if you are like most Americans you probably don't realize that many European countries are not as foolish and banned fluoride from their water supply many years ago. Here's why:
If you want to review more details, I would encourage you to review my fluoride summary page, What Your Dentist Isn't Telling You About Fluoride.
This is a serious issue and one of the reasons you don't want to regularly drink tap water--nealy all commercial tap water in the United States is fluoridated. Yes, chlorine has its problems, but fluoride may actually be worse.
So you will want to make certain that your regular source of drinking water is clean and pure. Be careful about using bottled water regularly, though. Unless you are using the five gallon recyclable jugs, the small water bottles are an enormous environmental strain, and they are best avoided except for occasional use.
I cringe every time I use one of them, as I hate to see the burden that the plastic puts on the environment. If you purify your water at home you can bring it to work with you in a glass or "safe" plastic container.
Getting back to the fluoride issue though, if you wish to make your feelings known about fluoridation, I urge you to visit the Fluoride Action Network's Web site, sign their online petition and send a letter to your Congressman.