Fluoride Paper

[GertrudaRose]

I thought some of you might find this interesting.  Please pardon me if this is redundant to what's already in the forum.

When I wrote this paper, the primary supplier of fluoride was ALCOA but I believe that has changed and it is now the pesticide companies producing most of it.  Also, many of the websites may be outdated or removed.  The government websites now have a lot of holes reading "reserved for future use" (yea, right).

Anyway, here's most of the paper:

Government Information on Fluoride
 

This is an excerpt from a paper written for a college course in retrieving government documents.  Many other sources are available for this topic but were not within the scope of this paper.  Since this paper was written in the year 2002, some of the sources may have been changed, moved, or deleted.  I have prints of all of these sources as they were when quoted.

Background
Fluoride was chosen as a topic because of a personal experience.  After suffering with a specific form of arthritis from the age of nine until one year ago, it slowly disappeared after a switch to non-fluoridated water.  This result was unexpected but much appreciated.  I convinced three others that have the same form of arthritis to try the change in water, with the result that two have been “cured”, while the third is much improved and still improving.  This began my research into what was in the water that can cause arthritis.

At that time, I was not aware of the availability of government documents so my research was done elsewhere, with surprising results.  It appears that it has been known for some time that fluoride causes calcification of the connective tissue, such as tendons, ligaments, and the myofascial covering of muscles.  “During the aging process, the body loses its ability to discriminate between which tissues should be mineralized and which tissues should not.  As will be shown, consumption of fluoride results in the same loss of the body’s ability to discriminate.  In other words, mineralization of tissue, such as bone, which should be mineralized, is disrupted, while tendons, ligaments, muscles, and other soft tissue which should not be mineralized start to become mineralized as a result of fluoride exposure” (Yiamouyiannis 38-39).  This hardening of connective tissue then causes many of the symptoms, including pain, while at the same time increasing the risk of hip fractures due to osteoporosis and cervical vertebrae damage through spondylosis.  Respected scientists have known of this side effect of fluoride since its introduction to the drinking water of Americans, as indicated in many journal articles that are not in the scope of this paper.

There are several types of fluoride and each may be known by different names, depending on context (chemistry, industry, etc.).  We are concerned here with sodium fluoride, also known as stannous fluoride.  According to the Material Safety Data Sheet of Mallinckrodt Chemicals, sodium fluoride is also known as Floridine, sodium monofluoride, disodium difluoride, natrium fluoride, and Florocid.  The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health lists seventy-two synonyms for sodium fluoride (Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances).  The chemical formula is NaF.  Fluoride is rated as a (level three) severe poison requiring goggles and gloves for handling (Material Safety Data Sheet).  Fluoride poisoning may result in death.  Among the other potential health effects, chronic exposure “may cause mottling of teeth and bone damage (osteosclerosis) and fluorosis.  Symptoms of fluorosis include brittle bones, weight loss, anemia, calcified ligaments, general ill health, and joint stiffness” (Material Safety Data Sheet).  Medline lists the early symptoms of possible chronic overdose of fluoride which includes “Pain and aching of bones; stiffness…”.

According to “The Story of Fluoridation”, the effects of fluoride on teeth were first discovered in 1901 because of what was called “Colorado Brown Stain”.   The children of Colorado Springs had brown teeth and a dentist named Frederick McKay discovered the link between the stained teeth and the high fluoride content of the drinking water source.  He also showed that these brown teeth were resistant to decay. 

In 1936, Dr. H. Trendly Dean reported that fluoride levels of 1.0 ppm did not discolor teeth.  From this it was determined that an “optimum” level of fluoride could be maintained that would not discolor teeth and yet still provide the decay resistance.  There have been no studies showing that this level of fluoride is safe for humans.  Yiamouyiannis points out that Dean’s work was done under the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) that was then under the jurisdiction of Treasury Secretary Andrew Mellon, the founder of ALCOA aluminum.  ALCOA is a primary provider of fluoride, a by-product of aluminum manufacturing.

Sodium fluoride was considered a toxic waste product of the aluminum industry until it was decided to put it in our drinking water.  This form of fluoride was also in crop run-off because it was a widely used pesticide and so found its way into many wells.  Fluoride was also used as a rat poison.  Fluoride is the reason that warnings are printed on toothpaste boxes about the quantity for small children.  The medical information also shows that fluoride causes bones to become brittle and teeth to become mottled with discoloration.  Surely our government knows these things or has disproved them.  The purpose of this paper is discovery of what the government tells us about the use of sodium fluoride.

 

Findings
According to AccessIndiana, it was three Indiana University professors that introduced fluoridated toothpaste.  The toothpaste was tested on school children in Bloomington and pronounced an “overwhelming success” (Inventions/Innovations 1816-1990).  Crest, the first fluoridated toothpaste, was then introduced to the public in 1956.  It was in 1965 that Connecticut became the first state to require the fluoridation of drinking water (Department of Public Health History).

According to the “Fluoride Facts” on the AccessIndiana site, there is no evidence that fluoridation is harmful:  “The media has reported data from an incomplete study by the National Toxicology Program (NTP)”.  This study did indeed seem to be flawed in that many male rats, but no female rats, became cancerous.  However, the NTP study concluded: “Dosed rats had lesions typical of fluorosis of the teeth and female rats receiving drinking water containing 175 ppm sodium fluoride had increased osteosclerosis of long bones” (Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies).

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) reports: “The decline in dental caries has occurred at the same time that there has been an increase in the prevalence of dental fluorosis…the prevalence of mild and moderate forms of fluorosis is about 22 percent” (Trends in Childhood).

Although 21CFR355 of The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) pertains to the use of fluoride in toothpaste, there are many listings in the CFR for fluoride including:

40CFR415 - chemical manufacturing,

21CFR355 - anticaries drug products,

49CFR219 – control of alcohol and drug use,

16CFR1700 – poison prevention packaging,

49CFR172 – hazardous materials table,

40CFR180 – tolerances for pesticide chemicals in food,

and others.

Regulation 21CFR355 dictates the size limitation for a package of fluoridated toothpaste “Due to the toxicity associated with fluoride active ingredients” (Anticaries Drug Products).  Warning labels are also required for the packaging of fluoridated toothpaste: “For all fluoride dentifrice (gel, paste, and powder) products.  ‘Keep out of the reach of children under 6 years of age. [highlighted in bold type]  If more than used for brushing is accidentally swallowed, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away’”.

            Fluoride is used for more than dental caries prevention.  The National Toxicology Program lists the primary uses as: “insecticide, enamels, glass mixes, steel de-gassing agent, electroplating fluxes, fluoridation of drinking water, disinfecting fermentation apparatus, preserving wood, pastes, manuf. coated paper, dental caries prophylactic” (Target Organs).  However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that  fluoride “is a crystalline mineral once widely used in the United States for control of larvae and crawling insects in homes, barns, warehouses, and other storage areas. It is highly toxic to all plant and animal life.   The only remaining use permitted is for wood treatment” (Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings).  Kansas still has a regulation stating: “It shall be unlawful for any person, firm or corporation to sell, expose for sale or offer for sale any sodium fluoride, sodium silico-fluoride, lead arsenate, calcium arsenate, calcium arsenate, or any other poisonous insecticide, fungicide or rodent poison unless said poison has been distinctly colored in such a manner as to make it easily distinguished from food products such as flour, soda, baking powder, cream of tarter, etc.” (Distinctive Coloring).

            The sodium fluoride used in drinking water and toothpaste is largely produced as a toxic waste of aluminum manufacturing.  ALCOA, a leader in the supply of fluoride, was once fined $750,000 by the Commerce Department for illegal chemical shipments of potassium fluoride and sodium fluoride.  The judge found that the company was not truthful on export control documents.  This is important because “Potassium fluoride and sodium fluoride are controlled because they can be used to make chemical weapons” (ALCOA Fined).   A report by the GAO on chemical weapons destruction states that some methods of destroying chemical weapons are not workable because “The salts removed from the molten salt bath will contain all the normal salts produced by incineration (sodium fluoride, chloride, sulfate, etc.)…These salts are all soluble and will have to be treated as toxic waste in a landfill” (Chemical Weapons Destruction).   The mining industry has also been problematic in frequently discharging fluoride as hazardous waste as reported in a special report issued by the EPA (Human Health).

A simple search of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website produces over five hundred results.  These results include reports on the use of fluoride to prevent dental caries, the possible use of fluoride as a prevention of osteoporosis, data reporting that fluoride causes osteoporosis and hip fractures, and a petition to remove fluoride supplements from the market.

The FDA petition has been assigned Docket Number 00P-1602/CP 1 and was filed on 6 November, 2000  (Jaffe).   I have also found information using the letter “O” in place of the zeroes (OOP-1602).  This petition was initiated by John V. Kelley of the New Jersey General Assembly.  In this petition, Kelley states: “I am petitioning the FDA to remove unapproved children’s fluoride supplements from the market.  Section 505(d) of the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FDC Act) 21 CFR part 314.50(d) requires either a New Drug Application (NDA) or an Abbreviated New Drug Application to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of a drug product prior to approval” (Kelly).  Kelly goes on: “I filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the FDA to obtain copies of the studies the FDA had used in evaluating the safety and effectiveness of these products.  I was shocked when the FDA informed me that the FDA had no such studies and that children’s fluoride supplements were not approved”.  He quotes the FDA as stating that “fluoride tablet and drug products are not subject to new drug requirements since they are identical to fluoride drug products marketed prior to 1938”; to which Kelly responds: “The only pre-1938 use of sodium fluoride my office has been able to identify was as a rodenticide and insecticide”.  Kelly then concludes his petition with: “The manufacturers of fluoride supplements have had fifty years to conduct clinical trials and toxicology studies to demonstrate the safety and effectiveness of systemic fluoride and submit them for FDA approval.  They have not done so.  Fifty years is a long time – even for the FDA”.

Many comments in support of the removal of fluoride supplements from the market can be found for this docket number on the FDA site, including United States Senator Phil Gramm of Texas.  Perhaps the most interesting response comes from the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU): “Our labor union, which represents the ca. 1800 scientists, engineers, lawyers and other professionals at the headquarters of the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, D. C., has been concerned for several years over the toxicity and uncontrolled exposures of the American people to fluoride.  The Executive Board of the union, whose members and their qualifications are listed below, has voted unanimously to support Assemblyman John V. Kelly’s petition to your agency to remove unapproved fluoride supplements from the market” (Murphy).

A letter from the FDA dated 26 April 2001 states that they have not had time to address this petition: “I am writing to inform you that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not yet resolved the issues raised in your petition…FDA has been unable to reach a decision on your petition due to the need to address other Agency priorities.  This interim response is provided in accordance with FDA regulations on citizen petitions (21 CFR 10.30(e)(2)).  We will respond to your petition as soon as possible given the numerous demands on the Agency’s resources” (Woodcock).

 

Conclusion
            Sodium fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral, but it is known to be hazardous with over-exposure.  But how much is too much?  Is it a safe level if it doesn’t discolor your teeth?  Is it possible that some people are more sensitive to fluoride?  Since there has never been a study to determine the safety of fluoride, does it make sense to continue to ingest it in our drinking water?

            I cannot prove that fluoride caused my arthritis, but I do know with certainty that it was caused by something in the water because if I drink it, the arthritis returns.  With what I now know about fluoride, it seems prudent to discontinue its use until studies can be completed.

 

Works Cited

“ALCOA Fined $750,000 by Commerce Department for Illegal Chemical Shipments”. 

U. S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Export Administration (19 Feb. 1999). 

ONLINE.  Available: http://www.bxa.doc.gov/press/99/alcoa.htm.  [20 Feb. 2002].

“Anticaries Drug Products for Over-the-Counter Human Use”.  Code of Federal

Regulations Title 21, Pt. 355, (1 Apr. 2001). ONLINE. Available:

http://frwebgate5.access.gpo.gov.  [18 March 2002].

“Chemical Weapons Destruction: Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternatives to

Incineration (Letter Report, 03/18/94, GAO/NSIAD-94-123)”.  Government

Accounting Office.  ONLINE.  Available: http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov.  [18

March 2002].

“Department of Public Health History”.  20 Feb., 2002.

<http://www.dph.state.ct.us/DPH_Main/about_dph/history/history.htm>.

“Distinctive Coloring of Certain Poisonous Substances; Purpose”.  Kansas Statute

65-651 (28 June).  ONLINE.  Available:

http://www.accesskansas.org/pharmacy/sta...5-651.html.  [20 Feb. 2002].  

“Fluoride Facts”.  AccessIndiana.  ONLINE. Available:

http://www.in.gov/isdh/programs/oral/fluoride.html.  [7 Feb. 2002].

“Inventions/Innovations 1816-1990”.   AccessIndiana.  ONLINE.  Available: 

http://www.in.gov/2016/statewide/technol...10past.htm.

[7 Feb. 2002].

 Ã¢â‚¬Å“Human Health and Environmental Damages from Mining and Mineral Processing

Wastes”.  U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Solid Waste (April

1998).  ONLINE.  Available:

http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/other/mining...damage.htm.  [20 Feb.

2002].

Jaffe, Lyle D.  “Dear Mr. Kelly.”  6 Nov. 2000.  Letter from the Food and Drug

Administration.  ONLINE.  Available:

 http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/...ck0001.pdf.  [24

March 2002].

“Material Safety Data Sheet.” 16 Feb. 1998. Mallinckrodt Baker, Inc.  7 Feb. 2002.

<http://www.mallchem.com/msds/englishhtml/s3722.htm>.

MEDLINEplus Health Information.  7 Aug., 1995.  Micromedex, Inc.  20 Feb., 2002.

<http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/sodiufluoridesystemic202527.

html>.

Murphy, James J.  “Dear Commissioner Henney”.  14 Nov. 2000.  Letter from the

 National Treasury Employees Union.  ONLINE.  Available:

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/...000001.pdf.  [24

March 2002].

“Target Organs and Levels of Evidence: NTP Technical Report Number 393”.  National

Toxicology Program (19 Sep. 2001).  ONLINE.  Available: http://ntp-

server.neihs.nih.gov/htdocs/levels/tr393levels.html.  [20 Feb. 2002]. 

“Toxicology and Carcinogenesis Studies of Sodium Fluoride (CAS No. 7681-49-4) in

F344/N Rats and B6C3F1 Mice (Drinking Water Studies)”.  National

Toxicology Program (Dec. 1990).  ONLINE.  Available:  http://ntp-

server.niehs.nih.gov/htdocs/LT-rpts/tr393.pdf.  [20 Feb. 2002]. 

“Trends in Childhood Use of Dental Care Products Containing Fluoride: United States,

1983-1989”.  Centers for Disease Control (219 Nov. 1992).  ONLINE.  Available:

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/ad/ad219.pdf.   [31 Mar. 2002].

“Recognition and Management of Pesticide Poisonings”.  United States

Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs  (926 Jul. 1999). 

ONLINE.  Available:  http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/safety/healt...Chap08.pdf.

 [20 Feb. 2002]. 

“Registry of Toxic Effects of Chemical Substances”.  National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health (Jul. 2000).  ONLINE.  Available:

<http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/rtecs/wb55730.html> .  [20 Feb. 2002].

“The Story of Fluoridation”.  National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research. 

ONLINE.  Available: <http://www.nidcr.nih.gov/health/fluorideStory.asp>.  [7 April

2002].

Woodcock, Janet.  “Dear Mr. Kelly”.  26 April 2001.  Letter from the Center for Drug

Evaluation and Research.  ONLINE.  Available:

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/dailys/...et0002.pdf.  [24

March 2002].

Yiamouyiannis, John.  Fluoride: The Aging Factor: How to Recognize and Avoid the

Devastating Effects of Fluoride.  Delaware, Ohio: Health Action Press, 1993.