The Case Against Fluoride : How Hazardous Waste Ended Up in Our Drinking Water and the Bad Science and Powerful Politics That Keep It There

When the U.S. Public Health Service endorsed water fluoridation in 1950, there was little evidence of its safety. Now, six decades later and after most countries have rejected the practice, many cities and towns across the United States continue to fluoridate their water supply and the Center for Disease Control and the American Dental Association continue to endorse it, despite increasing evidence that it is not only unnecessary, but potentially hazardous to human health.In this timely and important book, Dr. Paul Connett, Dr. James Beck, and Dr. H. Spedding Micklem take a new look at the science behind water fluoridation and argue that just because the medical establishment endorses a public health measure, that doesn't mean it's safe. In the case of water fluoridation, the chemicals used to fluoridate the water that more than 180 million people drink each day are not pharmaceutical grade, but rather hazardous waste products of the phosphate fertilizer industry; it is illegal to dump them into rivers and lakes or release them into the atmosphere. And water fluoridation is a prime example of one of the worst medical practices possible-forced medication with no control over the dose or who gets it. Perhaps most shocking of all, it is not subject to any federal regulation. At once painstakingly-documented and also highly-readable,__The Case Against Fluoride__brings new research to light, including links between fluoride and harm to the brain, bones, and kidneys, and argues that while there is possible value in topical applications like brushing your teeth with fluoride toothpaste, the evidence that swallowing fluoride reduces tooth decay is surprisingly weak.__The Case Against Fluoride__doesn't question the good intentions of dentists who support fluoridation, but rather explores the poor science, bizarre tactics, biased reviews, and puzzling motivations of a relatively small number of influential people who continue to push this practice on a largely ill-informed public. When The U.s. Public Health Service Endorsed Water Fluoridation In 1950, There Was Little Evidence Of Its Safety. Now, Six Decades Later And After Most Countries Have Rejected The Practice, Many Cities And Towns Across The United States Continue To Fluoridate Their Water Supply And The Center For Disease Control And The American Dental Association Continue To Endorse It, Despite Increasing Evidence That It Is Not Only Unnecessary, But Potentially Hazardous To Human Health. In This Timely And Important Book, Dr. Paul Connett, Dr. James Beck, And Dr. H. Spedding Micklem Take A New Look At The Science Behind Water Fluoridation And Argue That Just Because The Medical Establishment Endorses A Public Health Measure, That Doesn't Mean It's Safe.^ In The Case Of Water Fluoridation, The Chemicals Used To Fluoridate The Water That More Than 180 Million People Drink Each Day Are Not Pharmaceutical Grade, But Rather Hazardous Waste Products Of The Phosphate Fertilizer Industry; It Is Illegal To Dump Them Into Rivers And Lakes Or Release Them Into The Atmosphere. And Water Fluoridation Is A Prime Example Of One Of The Worst Medical Practices Possible-forced Medication With No Control Over The Dose Or Who Gets It. Perhaps Most Shocking Of All, It Is Not Subject To Any Federal Regulation. At Once Painstakingly-documented And Also Highly-readable, The Case Against Fluoride Brings New Research To Light, Including Links Between Fluoride And Harm To The Brain, Bones, And Kidneys, And Argues That While There Is Possible Value In Topical Applications Like Brushing Your Teeth With Fluoride Toothpaste, The Evidence That Swallowing Fluoride Reduces Tooth Decay Is Surprisingly Weak.^ The Case Against Fluoride Doesn't Question The Good Intentions Of Dentists Who Support Fluoridation, But Rather Explores The Poor Science, Bizarre Tactics, Biased Reviews, And Puzzling Motivations Of A Relatively Small Number Of Influential People Who Continue To Push This Practice On A Largely Ill-informed Public. Pt. 1. Ethical And General Arguments Against Fluoridation : Poor Medical Practice ; An Inappropriate And Inefficient Practice ; The Chemicals Used ; Who Is In Charge? ; An Experimental Program -- Pt. 2. The Evidence That Fluoridation Is Ineffective : Fluoridation And Tooth Decay ; The Early Evidence Reexamined ; Key Modern Studies -- Pt. 3. The Great Fluoridation Gamble : The Great Fluoridation Gamble, 1930-1950 ; The Great Fluoridation Gamble, 1950- -- Pt. 4. The Evidence Of Harm : Dental Fluorosis ; Fluoride's Chemistry, Biochemistry, And Physiology ; Fluoride Poisoning Of Humans: Early Reversible Effects ; The 2006 National Research Council Report ; Fluoride And The Brain ; Fluoride And The Endocrine System ; Fluoride And Bone ; Fluoride And Osteosarcoma ; Fluoride And The Kidneys, And Other Health Issues -- Pt. 5. Margin Of Safety And The Precautionary Principle : Margin Of Safety ; The Precautionary Principle -- Pt. 6. The Promoters And The Techniques Of Promotion : Weak And Inadequate Science ; Promoters' Strategies And Tactics ; Self-serving Governmental Reviews ; A Response To Pro-fluoridation Claims ; The Promoters' Motivations -- Review And Conclusion -- Appendix 1: Fluoride And The Brain ; Appendix 2: Fluoride And Bone. Paul Connett, James Beck, H.s. Micklem ; Foreword By Albert W. Burgstahler. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [291]-355) And Index. When the U.S. Public Health Service endorsed water fluoridation in 1950, there was little evidence of its safety. Now, six decades later and after most countries have rejected the practice, more than 70 percent of Americans, as well as 200 million people worldwide, are drinking fluoridated water. The Center for Disease Control and the American Dental Association continue to promote it--and even mandatory statewide water fluoridation--despite increasing evidence that it is not only unnecessary, but potentially hazardous to human health. In this timely and important book, Dr. Paul Connett, Dr. James Beck, and Dr. H. Spedding Micklem take a new look at the science behind water fluoridation and argue that just because the dental and medical establishments endorse a public health measure doesn't mean it's safe. In the case of water fluoridation, the chemicals that go into the drinking water that more than 180 million people drink each day are not even pharmaceutical grade, but rather a hazardous waste product of the phosphate fertilizer industry. It is illegal to dump this waste into the sea or local surface water, and yet it is allowed in our drinking water. To make matters worse, this program receives no oversight from the Food and Drug Administration, and the Environmental Protection Agency takes no responsibility for the practice. And from an ethical standpoint, say the authors, water fluoridation is a bad medical practice: individuals are being forced to take medication without their informed consent, there is no control over the dose, and no monitoring of possible side effects. At once painstakingly documented and also highly readable, The Case Against Fluoride brings new research to light, including links between fluoride and harm to the brain, bones, and endocrine system, and argues that the evidence that fluoridation reduces tooth decay is surprisingly weak. The Case against Fluoride - Front Cover Advance Praise for 'The Case Against Fluoride' Title Page Printer's Imprint Contents Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction Abbreviations PART ONE: Ethical and General Arguments against Fluoridation 1. Poor Medical Practice 2. An Inappropriate and Inefficient Practice 3. The Chemicals Used 4. Who Is in Charge? 5. An Experimental Program PART TWO: The Evidence That Fluoridation Is Ineffective 6. Fluoridation and Tooth Decay 7. The Early Evidence Reexamined 8. Key Modern Studies PART THREE: The Great Fluoridation Gamble 9. The Great Fluoridation Gamble, 1930–1950 10. The Great Fluoridation Gamble, 1950– PART FOUR: The Evidence of Harm 11. Dental Fluorosis 12. Fluoride’s Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Physiology 13. Fluoride Poisoning of Humans: Early Reversible Effects 14. The 2006 National Research Council Report 15. Fluoride and the Brain 16. Fluoride and the Endocrine System 17. Fluoride and Bone 18. Fluoride and Osteosarcoma 19. Fluoride and the Kidneys, and Other Health Issues PART FIVE: Margin of Safety and the Precautionary Principle 20. Margin of Safety 21. The Precautionary Principle PART SIX: The Promoters and the Techniques of Promotion 22. Weak and Inadequate Science 23. Promoters’ Strategies and Tactics 24. Self-Serving Governmental Reviews 25. A Response to Pro-Fluoridation Claims 26. The Promoters’ Motivations Review and Conclusion Appendix 1: Fluoride and the Brain Appendix 2: Fluoride and Bone Endnotes About the Authors Index Publisher's Press Notices Rear Cover