| Scientists have recently discovered that even very | | | | general population, certain populations may be at risk |
| low levels of lead, levels once considered safe, can | | | | for blood lead accumulation. |
| increase the risk of inattention, ADHD and other | | | | The fluoride study in Toxicology was done as follows. |
| attention disorders. A new study just published in the | | | | The researchers exposed Wister rats (a sub strain or |
| journal Toxicology has now linked water fluoridation | | | | Wister rats have been found to be good models for |
| to increased lead levels. This is a major public health | | | | Inattentive ADHD) to fluoride levels comparable to |
| problem as most of the Western world drinks | | | | the fluoride levels that are normally found in humans. |
| fluorinated water. Water Fluorination may be | | | | These researchers found that these rats |
| increasing our risk and our children's risk of ADHD or | | | | accumulated lead in their blood systems and |
| of other cognitive problems. | | | | subsequently developed blood lead levels that were |
| The history of fluoridation started in the US when | | | | dangerously high. Several other older studies have |
| doctors in Colorado found that people with a certain | | | | found high lead levels in communities with |
| type of tooth mottling, that turned out to be caused | | | | silica-fluoridation programs. The lead risks in these |
| by fluoride exposure, were less likely to get cavities. | | | | communities and in others may be further increased |
| Dental health was a major issue in the mid-1900s and | | | | because some of the products used for fluoridation |
| communities started in the 1970s to implement | | | | also contain lead. |
| widespread fluoridation programs. The rate of dental | | | | Most toothpaste for very young children does not |
| cavities decreased by 20-60 percent and the water | | | | contain fluoride. The bubble gummed flavored Barnie |
| fluoridation program was heralded as a huge success. | | | | and Barbie toothpaste are fluorine free. Many dentist |
| Today almost 70% of the US population drinks | | | | specifically warn parents to avoid the toothpaste |
| artificially fluridated water; 13 million school children | | | | without fluoride and they often prescribe a fluoride |
| use fluoride rinses and over 200 million Americans | | | | rinse for kids. Young children's toothpaste are fluoride |
| drink fluorinated water. Since the beginning of | | | | free for a reason, to avoid exposing young children |
| widespread water fluoridation there have been | | | | to dangerous levels of fluoride. Parents should be |
| concerns regarding health risks. Opponents of | | | | cautious regarding heeding the advice of dentist |
| fluoridation programs claim that fluoride is toxic and | | | | prescribing additional fluoride for their young children. |
| that it causes infant disease and mortality. They | | | | Fluoridated water is clearly more of a risk to children. |
| report that Japan has the lowest infant mortality rate | | | | Developing brains are more susceptible to brain insult |
| in the world largely because of their decision to not | | | | from heavy medals and from other toxins. It is no |
| implement a national fluoridation program. | | | | longer a novel finding that increased blood lead levels |
| Most previous studies have shown fluoridation to be | | | | in very young children is known to predispose them |
| safe and to not cause adverse outcomes. It is | | | | to poor cognitive outcomes. |
| possible that recent research will produce more | | | | I feel that, in light of the current findings regarding |
| positive findings because the researchers will have | | | | fluoride, parents should monitor their children's lead |
| taken into account the interaction of genes and | | | | level, limit the use of fluoride rinses in very young |
| environmental toxins. Studies showing how exposures | | | | children, and should stick to the non-fluorinated |
| in the environment and genes interact have shed light | | | | toothpastes for children under 10 years of age. I |
| on the possibility that certain genes may make us | | | | should hope that this Toxicology study will initiate a |
| more susceptible to the accumulation of certain | | | | public health inquiry into the risks associated with |
| heavy medals such as lead. Other studies, such as | | | | fluoride and ADHD as well as other attention |
| this one, may show that while fluoride is safe in the | | | | disorders. |