Fluoride Action Network Calls For A Moratorium

Fluoride Action Network (NZ) Inc.

MEDIA RELEASE Friday, 13 August 2004

Fluoride Action Network (NZ) Inc. has called for an immediate moratorium on water fluoridation today - to remaining in place until there is proof of safety.

This call comes on the heels of the latest in a series of research, published since the Public Health Commission reports in 1994 and 1995, demonstrating central nervous system (CNS) damage from fluoride at current levels of intake.

"The Swedish research team, arguably the world leaders in brain research, showed lowering of neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptor levels in the brain at the same blood-fluoride levels we find in fluoridated communities" says Mark Atkin, FAN(NZ) National Co-ordinator.

The researchers state "The neuronal nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the brain are important for functional processes, including cognitive and memory functions... The nAChRs are found to be involved in a complex range of central nervous system disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, Tourette's syndrome, anxiety, depression, and epilepsy."

This confirms earlier research showing CNS damage - Varner et al in 1998 and Strunecka et al in 1999 linking fluoride with increased Alzheimer's incidence; Mullinex et al in 1995 confirming once secret reports from the Manhattan Project in the 1940's showing CNS damage, and a number of Chinese studies showing lowered IQ.

When the best that can be said for fluoridation is it may save half a filling during childhood (York Review 2000) which may in fact be a temporary 1 year delay with no permanent benefit, how can any ethical doctor or public official justify this sort of harm to the public at large? asks Mr Atkin, who adds: "This further confirms the prediction of Nobel Laureate and independent fluoride researcher Dr Albert Schatz, that when the full health damage of fluoridation is known it will 'dwarf the thalidomide tragedy'".

"No doubt promoters will use their usual tactics so they can bury their heads in the sand and ignore this research - claim we cannot rely on the same laboratory rat trials we use for testing pharmaceuticals; or pay a tame 'expert' scientist the traditional 30 pieces of silver to write a 'critique' of the (internationally peer-reviewed) research saying, on bogus grounds, it is flawed.

We've seen it all before regarding cigarette smoking, leaded petrol, DDT, and the like. Before long, water fluoridation will suffer the same fate" suggests Mr Atkin.

ENDS