Louisiana May Mandate Fluoridation Despite Evidence of Harm

NEW YORK, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Ignoring scientific evidence of
harm, the Louisiana State Senate passed a fluoridation mandate bill which, if
approved by the House, will require fluoride chemicals be added to most of
Louisiana's public water supplies, ostensibly to reduce tooth decay. (The
Advocate, 5/29/08)

However, a 2006 review of fluoride toxicology literature conducted by the
prestigious National Research Council (NRC) reveals that ingested fluoride,
even at low levels used for fluoridation, poses risks to infants, diabetics,
kidney patients, high water drinkers and those with low thyroid function. Many
cities are stopping fluoridation.

"Sadly, fluoridation proponents orchestrated and paid for a slick but
inaccurate PR campaign. As a result legislators have only heard one side of
the story," says Paul Connett, PhD, Executive Director, Fluoride Action
Network.

Connett urges Louisianan's to contact their House representatives to stop the
money-wasting fluoridation mandate at http://la.fluoridealert.org , or call
their representative at 225-342-6945.

With American Dental Association funding, the Louisiana Dental Association
(LDA) hired public relations and lobbying firms to promote fluoridation,
according to the Journal of the Louisiana Dental Association (Winter 2007).

In October 2007, the National Kidney Foundation withdrew its position paper on
fluoridation to re-evaluate available literature. Yet, they are listed under
Louisiana's "Healthy Smiles Coalition" as favoring fluoridation.

"Fluoridation proponents always pull out a dubious laundry list of supporters
- virtually none of which have revisited their position since the
groundbreaking NRC report was published," says Connett.

"Despite 60 years of fluoridation, no U.S. research has ever studied
fluoridation's effect on many disorders such as arthritis, underactive
thyroid, children's lower IQ and bone fractures, or Alzheimer's disease," says
Connett.

The NRC reports babies are fluoride-overdosed and risk dental fluorosis
(discolored teeth) from "optimal" fluoridation levels (approximately 1 part
per million). Consequently, both the American Dental Association and the
Centers for Disease Control advise against mixing formula with fluoridated
water.

"Fluoridated water is actually 250 times higher than the level in mothers'
milk (0.004 ppm)," says Connett. "Parents who bottle feed their babies using
fluoridated tap water will dose their babies with 250 times more fluoride than
nature intended."

Over 1,700 professionals urge Congress to stop water fluoridation and conduct
hearings, citing the new scientific evidence that fluoridation is ineffective
and has serious health risks. See statement:
http://www.fluorideaction.org/statement.august.2007.html

SOURCE Fluoride Action Network

Paul Connett of Fluoride Action Network, +1-315-379-9200,
paul@fluoridealert.org, www.fluorideaction.net