Fluoride Toxicity

Volume 1 Issue 1 Why Be Concerned About Fluoride?

Toxicology On January 20, 1979, the New strong affinity for hydrogen. Hydrogen York Times ran a story of a three year is the major molecule which links DNA Series old boy, Billy, who died of a fluoride together.4 “Thus some of the serious overdose as a result of a routine clean- charges that are being laid at its ing of the teeth. The dental hygienist door—genetic damage, birth defects, Special Points of was engaged in conversation and failed cancer and allergy response—may Interest to instruct the child to wash his mouth arise from fluoride interference after out after treatment with a stannous all.”5 • Fluoridation of water sup- fluoride gel solution.1 plies in the state of Califor- Fluoride interferes with the forma- nia has been mandated by Fluoride is more toxic than lead yet tion of normal collagen, the protein ce- law. is is added to drinking water. Human ment which holds body structures to- • Fluoride is an extremely beings are like the proverbial ostrich gether. Total collagen is increased, as toxic substance used as a which sticks it’s head in the sand when much as 50% in one study, but the col- rat poison prior to being it feels threatened. Industries which lagen is imperfect. Structures heavily added to water supplies. have a huge financial stake in working dependent upon collagen include tooth • A sign of excess fluoride is with or promoting toxic substances will enamel and dentin, bone, cartilage, mottling of the teeth be the last to recognize the potential and muscle and skin. Teeth could be (fluorosis), an increasingly hazards they are promoting. An obvi- more heavily mineralized, while being common event. ous example is the tobacco industry. imperfect. This is what we appear to see with water fluoridation. Fluoride • Fluoride is slightly more Fluoride added to water supplies is also appears to disturb mineralization toxic than lead which we a byproduct of the manufacture of su- are making every effort to and may contribute to mineralization perphosphate and aluminum. It is also remove from our environ- of soft tissues.6 ment. a byproduct of manufacture of steel, lead, copper, and nickel. Fluoride is 1. Kennedy, David, How To Save Your Teeth, Delaware, Ohio: Health Action Press, 1993, pp. 133-134. quite toxic and was once widely used in insecticides and rodenticides. Good- 2. Gilman, Alfred, Goodman, Louis, Gilman, Alfred Goodman, Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacologi- man and Gilman write, “The pharma- Inside this issue: cal Basis of Therapeutics, New York: MacMillan Pub- cological actions of fluoride, with the lishing, 1980, p. 1546. possible exception of its effect on bone 3. Zeiger, Errol, Shelby, Michael, and Witt, Kristine, Fluoride and Behavior 2 and teeth, can be classified as toxic.2 “Genetic Toxicity of Fluoride,” Environmental and Mo- lecular Mutagenesis 21:309-318 (1993).

Of great concern is what has been 4. Yiamouyiannis, John, Fluoride The Aging Factor, Fluoride and Nutriton 3 termed the “Genetic Toxicity of Fluo- Delaware, Ohio: Health Action Press, 1983, p. 14. ride.” Fluoride causes chromosome ab- 5. “Hydrogen bonds show their strength,” New Scientist, errations in plants. Chromosome aber- January 22, 1981, p. 211. (Aardema, Marilyn, et al., Toothpaste 3 “Sodium fluoride-induced chromosome aberrations in rations have also been observed in ani- different stages of the cell cycle: a proposed mecha- mal and human cell cultures. One nism,“ Mutation Research 223(1989) 191-203.) Hypersensitivity 4 study concludes that “the weight of the 6. Yiamouyian- evidence leads to the conclusion that nis, John, Fluo- ride The Aging F— (fluoride) exposure results in chro- Diffusion Effect 4 Factor, Dela- mosome aberrations.3 ware, Ohio: Health Action The mechanism of how fluoride Press, 1983, Hip Fracture 4 pp.28-33. does its damage is now fairly well un- derstood. Fluoride can form a strong  Copyright 1998 Jim McAfee bond with protein structures within living systems. Fluoride has a very Many toothpastes have high levels of fluo- PAGE 2 FLUORIDE TOXICITY VOLUME 1,ISSUE 1

Fluoride, Brain Function and Behavior

Fluoride exposure has been increasing since the essor which integrates inputs from the environment, 1950’s. Not only is fluoride being added to water sup- memory, and motivational stimuli to produce behav- plies, but it is also contained ioral decisions and modify mem- in processed beverages, ory.”4 toothpaste, mouth rinses, dietary supplements, and Fluoride passes the blood-brain food.1 barrier in rats with chronic exposure. There is no reason to believe The evidence for increas- that this is not the case with hu- ing fluoride exposure is in- man beings as well.6 creasing incidence of dental fluorosis or mottled enamel. It has been estimated that fluoride The changes in the appear- inhibits over 100 different enzyme ance of enamel can vary from systems. Many of these enzymes small, opaque, paper-white are inhibited at fluoride levels of areas scattered over the one part per million or less—the tooth to deep brown or black Fluorosis: excessive fluoride exposure. level of fluoride added to water stained pits in the tooth. supplies. Many of these enzymes This evidence of damage to such as acetylcholinesterase and the tooth from fluoride has been recognized for over ATPase play important roles in brain and nerve func- 7 70 years.2 tion. Fluorosis has increased in both frequency and se- Enzyme Fluoride % Inhibition verity in areas with fluoridated water. This reflects Acetylcholinesterase 1 ppm 61% excessive fluoride ingestion. Fluoridated water, fluoride supplements, and fluoridated toothpaste are just Glutamine Synthetase 1 ppm 100% too much fluoride for young children.2 DNA Repair Enzyme 1 ppm 50% Phyllis Mullenix has conducted studies which show that fluoride can cause hyperactivity and cogni- Lactoperoxidase 1 ppm 50% tive deficits in rats. Her work suggests that fluoride has a potential for creating “motor dysfunction, IQ Alkaline Pyrophosphatase .4 ppm 52%7 deficits and/or learning disabilities in humans.”3 1. Mullenix, Phyllis, Denbesten, Pamela, Schunior, Ann, and Fluoride level in the blood of animals was .059— Kernan, William, “Neurotoxicity of Sodium Fluoride in Rats, Neu- rotoxicology and Teratology, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 169-177, 1995. .640 ppm. Blood plasma levels of children receiving topical applications of fluoride have been shown to be 2. Gilman, Alfred, Goodman, Louis, Gilman, Alfred Goodman, 3 Goodman and Gilman’s The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeu- as high as 1.44 ppm one hour after treatment. tics, New York: MacMillan Publishing, 1980, p. 1546. One study on adult humans found attention af- Pendrys, David, “Risk of Fluorosis in a Fluoridated Popula- fected by sublingual drops con- tion: Implications for the Dentist and Hygienist,” JADA, Vol. 126, Dec. taining 100 ppm of sodium fluo- 1995, p. 1617. ride. This is relevant because “toothpastes contain 1,000 to “This is the first laboratory study to demonstrate 3. Ibid., p. 176. 1500 ppm fluoride and that CNS (Central Nervous System) functional 4. Ibid., p. 175. mouthrinses contain 230—900 5. Hileman, Bette, “Fluoridation of ppm fluoride.”2 output is vulnerable to fluoride, that the effects on Water,” Chemical and Engineering News, August 1, 1988, p. 33. Fluoride appears to damage behavior depend on the age at exposure and that 6. Mullenix, p. 175. the hippocampal area of the fluoride accumulates in brain tissues.”3 brain. This is the “central proc- 7. Yiamouyiannis, John, Fluoride The Aging Factor, Delaware, Ohio: Health VOLUME 1,ISSUE 1 FLUORIDE TOXICITY PAGE 3 Fluoride and Nutrition

Those with poor diets are more prone to damage from fluoride. Calcium is very pro- be due to an aggravation of a low tective from the toxic effects of fluoride. magnesium intake.2 “There is general agreement...that calcium deficiency does increase the severity of the Fluoride also interferes with energy manifestations of fluoride intoxication.” It production. People with heart and is fairly reliable to conclude that “the lower kidney problems are particularly at the calcium intake, the more prevalent and risk from fluoride exposure.2 1 more severe the mottling.” 1. Massler, Maury, and Schour, Isaac, “Relation of endemic dental fluorosis to mal- Fluoride may interfere with iodine nutrition,” JADA, February 1952, p. 164-165. metabolism. Areas with high levels of “...mottling of the enamel in children fluorosis also have high levels of thyroid 2. Clement International Corporation, Toxico- from low economic levels and deficient logical Profile for Fluorides, Hydrogen Fluo- enlargement.1 nutrition was severe while mottling ride, and Fluorine (F), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 1993, pp. Deficiencies of protein, magnesium, was absent in children residing in the 112-113. and vitamin C may also increase fluo- same endemic community who ride toxicity. In rats, fluoride caused 1 convulsive seizures. This was believed to enjoyed adequate nutrition.” Toothpaste

As a result of a mandate by the FDA, fluoridated a child whose teeth were damaged by fluoride.2 toothpaste shipped after April 7, 1997 will carry the following warning: “If you accidentally swallow more The Journal of the American Dental Association than used for brushing, seek professional help or con- suggests that “an estimated 71 percent of the fluoro- tact a poison control center immedi- sis cases can be explained by a history of ately.” “If you accidentally swallow having brushed more than once a day with more than a pea-sized amount of more than used for brushing, Children under six should be toothpaste…” monitored if brushing teeth with seek professional help or 1. Oldenburg, Don, “Toothpaste: How Safe?” The fluoridated toothpaste. A 1995 study contact a poison control center Washington Post, June 16, 1997, p. C5. found that half of these children swallow toothpaste rather than spit immediately.” 2. Jackson, Linda, “Colgate pays out for teeth ru- it out or rinse it out. They also tend ined by fluoride,” The Sunday Telegraph, (London), November 24, 1996, p. 1. to use too much toothpaste.1 The amount of toothpaste used should be about the size of a pea, and 3. Pendrys, David,“Risk of Fluorosis in a Fluoridated Popula- brushing should take place only once a day.3 In 1996 tion,“ JADA, Vol. 126, December 1995, p. 1621. Colgate made a “goodwill” payment to the parents of Immune Inhibitor

Fluoride has the ability to distort the forma- doses as low as .1 ppm. Fluoride has been shown tion of the body’s own protein. The body’s im- to increase cyclic AMP as much as 100% at in- mune system can then be triggered to attack takes as low as 1 ppm. Cyclic AMP is known its own protein resulting in autoimmune or to inhibit the migration rate of white blood allergic responses. cells.

Fluoride has also been shown to inhibit 7. Yiamouyiannis, John, Fluoride The Aging Factor, Dela- the migratory activity of white blood cells in ware, Ohio: Health Action Press, 1983, pp. 22-25. a dose related manner. Inhibition begins at IMAGE AWARENESS INTNL

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Other Aspects of Fluoride Toxicity

Hypersensitivity Hip Fracture Statistical studies show an increase in hip fractures Fluoride can result in hypersensitivity. This is among the elderly in fluoridated communities. well enough recognized that the Physicians Desk Ref- erence carried the following warning in 1992: Jacobsen, Steven, et al., “Regional Variation in the Incidence of Hip Fracture,” JAMA, July 25, 1990, p. 500. “In hypersensitive individuals, fluorides occas- sionally cause skin eruptions such as atopic dermati- What About Tooth Decay? tis, eczema or urticaria. Gastric distress, headache Rarely mentioned is the fact that “the current re- and weakness have also been reported. These hyper- ported decline in caries in the U.S. and other Western sensitivity reactions usually disappear promptly after industrialized countries has been observed in both discontinuation of the fluoride. In rare cases, a delay fluoridated and nonfluoridated communities, with in the eruption of teeth has been reported.” percentage reductions in each community apparently Physicians Desk Reference, Edition 46, 1992, p. 2273. about the same.”1 The “Diffusion Effect” The proposition that fluoride prevents tooth decay Soft drinks and juices prepared with fluoridated wa- has been repeated so frequently and so emphatically ter increase total fluoride exposure. This has been that most people assume that it is true. The true called the “diffusion effect” or the “halo effect.” The cause of reduced tooth decay is probably improved nu- more fluoride in the environment, the greater the to- trition. Several major studies, including some of the tal exposure will be. The recent move to fluoridate all largest, show little reduction of tooth decay as a re- the water supplies in the state of California has the sult of drinking fluoridated water. Examination of potential to greatly enhance total fluoride exposure 39,000 schoolchildren aged 5-17 revealed “No statisti- not only in California, but also in other areas where cally significant differences were found in the decay foods or beverages manufactured with fluoridated wa- rates of permanent teeth or the percentages of decay- ter are exported. free children in the F (fluoridated), NF (nonfluoridated) and PF (partially fluoridated) areas.”2 Kiritsk, Mary, “Assessing Fluoride Concentrations of Juices and Juice-flavored Drinks,” JADA, Vol. 127, July 1996, p. 895. Collagen synthesis is increased by fluoride exposure, but the fluoride is imperfect. Treatment of bone Fluoride and Cancer cells with 1 ppm fluoride increased collagen formation Epidemiologists have noted an increase by 50%. This may explain why fluoride appears to re- in bone cancer among males under 20 in duce tooth decay. 1 areas with fluoridated water. Fluoride 1. Hileman, Bette, Fluoridation of Water, Chemical also increases the tumor growth rate in and Engineering News, August 1, 1988, p. 31. 2 animals. 2. Yiamouyiannis, John, “Water Fluoridation and 1. Yiamouyiannis, John, “Fluoridation and Cancer,” Tooth Decay: Results from the 1986-1987 National Fluoride, Vol. 26, No. 2, pp. 83-96, 1993. Survey of U.S. Schoolchildren,” Fluoride, Journal of the International Society for Fluoride Research, 2. Yiamouyiannis, John, Fluoride The Aging Factor, vol. 23, No. 2; April 1990; p. 55, pp. 28-33. Delaware, Ohio: Health Action Press, 1983, p. 27.