FLUORIDATION
Sir-Does Dr. Turbott really believe that all his listeners have a mental age of 12? Let us examine the text of his recent talk on Fluoridation. First of all, what does he mean when he says "U.S.A. is so convinced of the correctness of hardening the teeth . .. with the proper amount of fluorine .. .?" Certainly he cannot mean the people of U.S.A., because 1514 million is only about onetenth of the total population, and in any case, the people are not consulted by the local authorities. Next, Dr. Turbott says, "The law allows a local authority to treat a water supply for purity and for the advancement of the people’s health." What statistics are there to show that fluorine advances the people’s health? Again, Dr. Turbott states that "with fluorine round about 1 part per million or higher (my italics) the teeth keep decay at bay much better." On the contrary, Dorland’s American Illustrated. Medical Dictionary (20th Edition, p. 494) says that fluorosis (mottled discoloured, pitted teeth) occurs in communities drinking water that contains 1 part or more per million (my italics) of fluorine." Now let’s have a look at some of the statements by "out of date" authorities. Dr. Bronner, of Los Angeles, distinguishes between organic calcium-fluoro-phosphate which is absorbed through
plant life, and used for building and hardening our bones, and sodium fluoride which the local authorities propose to use in our water supply. This is an instant poison, water-soluble and a most efficient rat killer. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has recommended that no fluorides or fluorine be added to water or feed of brood sows because it does something to the pigs that are unborn. Lastly, Dr. Paul Manning, also of U.S.A., says that what may be a harmless dose of fluorine to one person may kill another. In other words, an average dose im the water supply might be dangerous. Let us have the facts so that they can be assimilated by intelligent adults. If there is no satisfactory answer, I suggest that the whole scheme be dropped as harmful or probably harmful to the health of New Zealanders.
W. H.
THOMAS
(Auckland).
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New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 775, 28 May 1954, Page 5
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358FLUORIDATION New Zealand Listener, Volume 30, Issue 775, 28 May 1954, Page 5
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