WATER FLUORIDATION
In the Republic of Ireland
Declan Waugh
Environmental Scientist, Fluoride Researcher
and Risk Management Consultant
According to most dental health professionals, the media and many politicians in Ireland their view is that opponents of water fluoridation are quack scientists , conspiracy theorists and folklorists.
Included among those opposed to fluoridation of water
are some of the leading experts in medicine, neurology, chemistry,
pharmacology, toxicology and risk assessment.
Just a few examples include:
The Principles of Water Fluoridation For Dummies
Step 1.
Before you commence a mass fluoridation programme determine
the total exposure of the population to fluoride from all dietary
sources, including beverages, foods and medications.
Step 2.
If population or subgroups of population have a high fluoride
intake from other sources do not expose them to further risk by
artificially fluoridating the public water supply.
WHAT IS ONE’S
EXPOSURE
TO
FLUORIDE?
Ref: WHO. Water, Sanitation and Health: Guidelines for
Drinking Water Quality, Health Criteria and Other
Supporting Information, 2nd edn., Vol. 2, World Health
Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1996 pp. 231–237.
“Levels of daily exposure to fluoride
depend on the geographical area, if
diets contain tea, exposure may be
particularly high (WHO, 1996).”
EXAMPLES OF CURRENT PEER REVIEWED
PUBLISHED HUMAN EXPOSURE ASSESSMENT
OF FLUORIDE
The UK supermarket economy teas contained elevated
fluoride, ranging from 3.60 to 7.96 mg/L.
This study used ultra-pure de-ionised water in the infusion
preparation. In some areas of the UK, drinking water is
artificially fluoridated to approximately 1 mg/L, as in the case
of Severn Trent Water supply to Birmingham.
“This study indicates fluoride concentrations can
exceed the recommended Dietary Reference Intake
(DRI) of 4 mg/day, in certain tea commodities,
under the minimal brewing time of 2 min.”
“Considering these case studies, fluoride
concentrations found in the present study could lead
to detrimental health conditions in a human,
especially if consuming in excess of a litre of the
Economy branded tea per day.”
“The population who are socio-economically disadvantaged
and use economy labeled foods are at more of a risk from
higher exposure to fluoride from these tea brands.”
“Most of the fluoride was released into the tea infusion is
available for absorption by the human system and can partly
or completely fulfill the recommended DRI of 4 mg/day for
an adult.”
“All tea products should be considered as a main source of
fluoride in the diet. Supermarkets and manufacturers of tea
should consider stating fluoride concentration as part of the
nutritional information found on food packaging.”
“The mean fluoride concentrations in leaf tea, bagged tea, and
packaged tea ranged from 5.37-25.7 mg/l”
“Most of the intake concentrations in those samples exceeded 4
mg/ l F, the lower bound of fluoride levels reported in the
literatures to be associated with a lower IQ in children and a
higher risk of bone fracture.”
“Some elderly people take tea as their major fluid intake instead of water.
Their fluoride intake from tea would very likely exceed Allowable Daily Intake (ADI).”
“For bagged and packaged tea, drinking one 900ml bagged tea per day would
bring fluoride intakes close to the estimated ADIs.”
“Children who are taking one 300 ml of certain tea beverages per week would consume
a sufficient fluoride close to ADIs.”
“The optimal level for water fluoridation to prevent dental caries is between 0.7 and
1.2 mg/L. The intake fluoride concentrations of tea samples were all much higher
(4–41 times ) than the optimal level.”
“Recently, the Taiwan government has been considering adding fluoride to the drinking
water to prevent dental caries. Due to the high accessibility of tea drinks in Taiwan, it is
very likely that sufficient fluoride is obtained from tea drinks and other sources such as
toothpaste. Caution must be taken to carry out water fluoridation in Taiwan in order
to avoid side effects.”
A total of 52 tea specimens were purchased from tea stores, and a total of 208 infusion
samples were collected. All tea samples were prepared with de-ionized water.
Among six kinds of tea, black tea had the highest fluoride concentrations (8.64 +/- 2.96mg/l).
Influence of Sugar on Black Tea Drinks
“The average fluoride in infusions with any amounts of sugar (one to four sachets)
4.22 +/- 0.48mg were about twice of those in infusions without sugar (2.10+/- 0.22mg).
“Our results suggest that adding sugar increases the fluoride infusion from
black tea leaves and the excess infusion occurs primarily in the first few minutes.”
Some people use 500 ml mugs to drink tea and it is easy to purchase tea drinks with
500–600ml in local stores in Taiwan. Therefore, 20 l/week is used as a reasonable estimation
of Taiwanese Reasonable Maximum Exposure (RME) to represent a plausible worst case
Scenario for tea consumption.
“The mean tea intake per capita for adults in Canada, the US, and England are 1.5–3, 0.8–
1.2, and 4–4.5 l/week. Tea lovers in the UK who drink more than the average amounts
should be cautious about the potential dental and skeletal fluorosis.”
Furthermore, tea drinkers who like stronger tea brew the
tea for a longer period of time (each round 42.5min) or
use more tea leaves. More fluoride would be infused in
drinks with a longer preparation time and with more tea
leaves; thus, those tea lovers would consume more
fluoride than these reported here.
Besides, this work was conducted with de-ionized
water; and fluoride concentrations in the drinking
water of Taiwan are from less than 0.01 to 0.28mg/l.
Thus, fluoride intakes in actual tea drinking would be
higher than the current estimations.
“Recently, the Taiwan government has been considering
adding fluoride to drinking water to prevent dental
caries. However, due to the high accessibility of tea
drinks in Taiwan, it is very likely that sufficient
fluoride is already obtained from tea drinks and
other sources such as toothpaste. Caution should be
taken in carrying out water fluoridation in Taiwan in
order to avoid side effects.”
The European Food Safety Authority who reported that if fluoridated water were drunk and used for the preparation of food and tea (1-2 L of water/day; 500 mL of tea (2 cups) with a fluoride concentration of 5 mg/L) 3.5 to 4.0 mg fluoride would be added to the daily dietary intake of an individual compared to consumers living in non-fluoridated areas . The EFSA reported that in fluoridated communities the dietary intake could be 6.0 mg fluoride per day, without fluoride from toothpaste taken into account , and that even more extreme scenarios are possible and not completely unrealistic.
Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Dietetic Products, Nutrition and Allergies on a request from the Commission related to the Tolerable Upper Intake Level of Fluoride, The EFSA Journal (2005) 192, 1-65, published on 7 June 2006.
North/South Ireland Food Consumption
Survey
Irish Universities Nutrition Alliance ,
2001.
“Ireland has the highest per capita
consumption of tea in the world
with an average consumption per
person of four cups every day,
i.e. a total of 5.2 billion cups per
annum”.
In Ireland, 91% of adults aged 18-64 years are tea
consumers, with a mean daily intake of tea of
619ml/day and a 95th percentile intake of
1259ml/day. This also means that 5% of adults
drink more than 1.25 Litres of tea per day.
In 2011, according to a report
by the Irish Food Safety
Authority the average total
fluoride intake from all sources,
including food and water for the
average adult consumer in the
ROI, who consume fluoridated
water as well as fluoridated
foodstuffs and other beverages
is just 1.88 -2.09 mg/day.
There is more than a
TEN FOLD difference in
the FSAI reported
fluoride content of tea,
compared to all
published international
data.
Remarkably, the FSAI
reported a fluoride level
in tea that is significantly
less than what is present
in fluoridated tap water!
The sample was taken not
by a staff member of the
FSAI but by a unnamed
staff member from the
Dental School at
University College Cork.
No chain of control or
quality control records
documenting the type or
brand of tea or any other
data are available . No
duplicate samples were
tested.
The dietary fluoride
exposure of the Irish
population from tea
consumption was
based on analysis of a
single tea bag, from
an undocumented
brand of tea.
From this, the Irish Food
Safety Authority estimated
that the average total
fluoride intake from all
sources, including food and
water for average adult
consumers in the ROI ,
who consumes fluoridated
water, as well as
fluoridated foodstuffs, is
just 1.88 - 2.09 mg/day.
This is equal to the
total fluoride intake
from drinking a single
cup of tea and nothing
else.
In addition no data
was provided by
the FSAI in their
risk assessment for
fluoride exposure
from medications
or fluoride
exposure from
dental restorative
materials used in
dentistry.
Fluoride level measured with fluoride ion specific electrode using TISAB reagents and certified fluoride standards
FLUORIDE IN PLASMA
Cowell and Taylor (1981) reported that the mean
serum ionic fluoride concentrations in 497 normal
individuals, from areas with non-fluoridated water
supplies was 0.31 μmol/L.
When water is fluoridated at the WHO-recommended
levels, the range of plasma fluoride concentration is
usually 1–6uM. (Husdan et al., 1976; Singer and
Ophaug, 1979).
Dental fluorosis occurs at chronic low plasma fluoride
levels of 2-12 uM/L (Bronckers et al, 2009)
Singh et al.(2014) also reported a significant relationship
water fluoride-serum fluoride in children residing in areas
with varying levels of fluoride in drinking water. In the latter
study, among control children without dental fluorosis
residing in an area where their drinking water had a fluoride
level of just 0.98-1.0ppm/L, the serum fluoride levels ranged
from 1.05 μM to 4.7 μM.
It was reported that 50% of children had elevated or
abnormal serum fluoride levels.
Among the children residing in areas with water fluoride
levels ranging from 1.6-5.5ppm the serum fluoride levels
ranged from 1.05-40 μM. Singh et al.(2014) A comparative study of fluoride ingestion levels, serum thyroid hormone & TSH
level derangements, dental fluorosis status among school children from endemic and non-endemic
fluorosis areas.
Susheela et al. (2005) measured water fluoride
and serum fluoride levels among children living
in communities with both low and high levels
of fluoride in drinking water. In the control
group with a mean fluoride level in drinking
water of 0.23mg/L (range 0.14-0.81mg/L), the
serum fluoride levels ranged from 1.05-7.3μM
Ekstrand et al. (1994) reported that when
children were given a fluoride supplement of
0.25mg the mean plasma peak concentration
was 3.3uM/L.
Importantly, the United States National
Academies (2006) noted that impaired
glucose metabolism appears to be
associated with serum or plasma fluoride
concentrations of about 5 µmol/litre or
greater in humans.
The U.S National Academies further reported that in
humans effects on thyroid function were associated
with fluoride exposures of 0.05-0.13 mg/kg/day
when iodine intake was adequate and 0.01-0.03
mg/kg/day when iodine intake was inadequate .
This exposure equates to a total dietary fluoride
intake of between 0.7 - 3.5mg per day at which
thyroid function may be impaired.
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
Person living in non fluoridatedcommunity with low fluoride
intake
Person living in community withfluoridated water fluoride
Fluoride toothpaste Fluoride tablets (0.5mg)
Plasma Fluoride levels measured in micromoles/litre
Above 5um can lead to glucose intolerance
3.63 4.5 5.3 6.3 11.2 17 25 25
35
51
79
187
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
Plasma Fluoride levels after exposure to fluoride toothpaste, low dose fluoride tablets, fluoride varnish and fluoridated medications
and anesthetics After administration of Sevoflurane the typical range in normal healthy adults is around 60µmoles. For persons with genetic susceptibility to fluoride, plasma fluoride levels will be significantly higher as they are unable to properly metabolise fluoride resulting in elevated plasma levels. The high plasma level of 187µmoles was present in Such an individual.
Susheela AK, Bhatnagar M, Vig K., Mondald NK. Excess Fluoride Ingestion And Thyroid Hormone
Derangements In Children Living In Delhi, India. Fluoride 2005;38(2):98–108 Research report
THYROID FUNCTION AND FLUORIDE
In 2005, Professor Sushella et al. published the findings of a study
examining the effect of fluoride exposure on thyroid function in
children.
The drinking water fluoride of the control I group ranged from 0.14
to 0.81 mg F–/L (mean 0.23 mg F–/L) and that of the control II group
(n = 11) ranged from 0.14 to 0.73 mg F–/L (mean 0.41 mg F–/L).
IMPORTANTLY, THE LEVEL OF FLUORIDE WAS LESS THAN
WHAT IS PRESENTED IN ARTIFICIALLY FLUORIDATED
DRINKING WATER IN IRELAND.
In control I, only 30% of children had serum fluoride below the normal
upper limit of 0.02 mg F–/L. The remaining children, even though they
were consuming “safe” water, had elevated serum fluoride.
In control II, less than 10% of children had serum fluoride below the
normal upper limit. The remaining children who were tested also had
elevated serum fluoride.
Excess Fluoride was coming from other
sources other than water including
medications and dietary sources.
The majority of children 54% had well defined thyroid hormonal derangements. The
findings indicate that children with or even without dental fluorosis from exposure to
excess fluoride, either through drinking water or through other sources, may have
thyroid hormone derangements that may not be clinically overt until late stages.
“Withdrawal from fluoride sources along with measures to correct the thyroid
hormonal status may be necessary to promote better health in such children.”
“Our findings further strengthen the possibility that fluoride is often responsible
for thyroid hormone alterations normally ascribed to Iodine deficiency disorder.”
“The role of excess fluoride in aggravating health problems in children by inducing
iodine deficiency disorders appears to be either overlooked or has remained largely
unnoticed.”
Susheela AK, Bhatnagar M, Vig K., Mondald NK. Excess Fluoride Ingestion And Thyroid Hormone
Derangements In Children Living In Delhi, India. Fluoride 2005;38(2):98–108 Research report
“Iodine supplementation may not be adequate to reduce IDD
when excess fluoride is being consumed. Removal of fluoride
from ingestion needs to precede iodine supplementation. The
present study, in the light of the observations made, questions the
validity of fluoridation of drinking water, milk, fruit juices, and
salt by public health authorities in the uncertain hope of
preventing dental caries. The damage these programs are
causing to the well-being of the children is perhaps
unquantifiable.”
Susheela AK, Bhatnagar M, Vig K., Mondald NK. Excess Fluoride Ingestion And Thyroid Hormone
Derangements In Children Living In Delhi, India. Fluoride 2005;38(2):98–108 Research report
Fluoride when ingested into the human body alters virtually all known intracellular signalling pathways and is known to inhibit or stimulate a wide variety of metabolic enzymes as well as alter protein metabolism. In this example we will examine the effect of fluoride on just one protein Osteocalin, which is produced by Osteoblasts in bone cells.
OSTEOCALIN A bone protein synthesized by
osteoblastic cells.
FLUORIDE EXPOSURE AT LOW DOSE LEVELS STIMULATES INCREASED PRODUCTION OF OSTEOCALIN
Early onset Puberty
Insulin resistance
Glucose intolerance
Calcification of Arteries & Cardiovascular disease
Osteoarthritis
Prostate Cancer
Metastatic Bone Tumours
Leukaemia Downs syndrome
Several studies have found that fluoride exposure causes an increase in serum osteocalin (OC) levels in humans.
Dandona P., Coumar A., Gill D. S., Bell J. and Thomas M. Sodium Fluoride Stimulates Osteocalcin In Normal Subjects, Clinical Endocrinology (1 988), 29,437-44 1. Battmann A., Resch H., Libanati C. R., Ludy D., Fischer M., Farley S. and. Baylink D. J Serum Fluoride and Serum Osteocalein Levels in Response to a Novel Sustained-Release Monofluorophosphate Preparation: Comparison with Plain Monofluorophosphate. Osteoporosis Int (1997) 7:48-51 Ma J., L Mi., Song Y., Tu J., Liu F., Liu K, Serum osteocalcin and calcitonin in adult males with different fluoride exposures. Research report Fluoride 42(2)133–136 April-June 2009 Hung H, Ba Y, Cui L, et al. COLIA2 gene polymorphisms (Pvu II and RSA I), serum calcitropic hormone levels, and dental fluorosis. Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 2008; 36:517-522 Ba Y, Zhu JY, Yang YJ, Yu B, Huang H, Wang G, Ren LJ, Cheng XM, Cui LX, Zhang YW. Serum calciotropic hormone levels, and dental fluorisis in children exposed to different concentrations of fluoride and iodine in drinking water. Chin Med J (Engl). 2010 Mar 20;123(6):675-9. Srivastava RN, Gill DS, Moudgil A, Menon RK, Thomas M, Dandona P. Normal ionized calcium, parathyroid hypersecretion, and elevated osteocalcin in a family with fluorosis. Metabolism. 1989 Feb;38(2):120-4.
Battman et al.(1997) reported that fluoride is a potent stimulator of osteoblastic proliferation and demonstrated that serum Osteocalin levels increase significantly in response to increasing serum fluoride levels. In this study a modest 5 μM reduction in serum fluoride levels resulted in a 15-30% reduction in OC levels within 2 months.
Battmann A., Resch H., Libanati C. R., Ludy D., Fischer M., Farley S. and. Baylink D. J Serum Fluoride and Serum Osteocalein Levels in Response to a Novel Sustained-Release Monofluorophosphate Preparation: Comparison with Plain Monofluorophosphate. Osteoporosis Int (1997) 7:48-51
Kalichman L, Kobyliansky E. Radiographic hand osteoarthritis and serum levels of osteocalcin: cross-sectional study. Rheumatol Int. 2010 Jun;30(8):1131-5. doi: 10.1007/s00296-010-1372-y. Epub 2010 Feb 16.
Kalichman and Kobyliansky (2010) reported that elevated Osteocalin has been identified as a risk factor for osteoarthritis
Gardner et al. (2009) found that OC levels are elevated in in metastatic bone tumours, including prostate tumours.
Gardner TA, Lee SJ, Lee SD, Li X, Shirakawa T, Kwon DD, Park RY, Ahn KY, Jung C. Differential expression of osteocalcin during the metastatic progression of prostate cancer. Oncol Rep. 2009 Apr;21(4):903-8.
Ou et al. (2003) reported that OC expression is associated with prostate cancer (PC) and PC metastasis to lymph node and bone as well as was hormone-refractory prostate cancer.
Ou YC, Chen JT, Yang CR, Ko JL, Hsieh YS, Kao C. Expression of osteocalcin in prostate cancer before and after hormonal therapy. Anticancer Res. 2003 Sep-Oct;23(5A):3807-11.
Karsenty (2012) reported that disturbances in OC production by the skeleton is not only associated with fertility disorders in men, but also with high risk of prostate cancer [a].
[a]Translational Endocrinology of Bone. Reproduction, Metabolism, and the Central Nervous System, ed. Gerard Karsenty, Academic Press, 2012, ISBN : 9780124157842
Nimptsch et al. (2009) found an increased risk of advanced-stage and high-grade prostate cancer was linked with higher serum osteocalin and suggested that a boost of the bioactive form of osteocalin might be related to progression of prostate malignancies.
Nimptsch K, Rohrmann S, Nieters A, Linseisen J. Serum undercarboxylated osteocalcin as biomarker of vitamin K intake and risk of prostate cancer: a nested case-control study in the Heidelberg cohort of the European prospective investigation into cancer and nutrition. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009 Jan;18(1):49-56. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0554.
Patti et al. (2013) reported that Osteocalin increases insulin secretion and sensitivity in humans.
Patti A, Gennari L, Merlotti D, Dotta F, and Nuti R. Endocrine Actions of Osteocalcin, International Journal of Endocrinology, Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 846480, 10 pages http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/846480
Aoki et al. (2011) found that circulating Osteocalin is increased in subjects with glucose intolerance or early stage diabetes.
Aoki A., Muneyuki T., Yoshida M, Munakata H., Ishikawa S, Sugawara H, Kawakami M, Kakeiemail M., Circulating osteocalcin is increased in early-stage diabetes. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice Volume 92, Issue 2, Pages 181–186, May 2011
Holvik et al.(2014) found that elevated OC was associated with an increased risk of CVD in older women.
Holvik K, van Schoor NM, Eekhoff EM, den Heijer M, Deeg DJ, Lips P, de Jongh R. Plasma osteocalcin levels as a predictor of cardiovascular disease in older men and women: a population-based cohort study. Eur J Endocrinol. 2014 Aug;171(2):161-70. doi: 10.1530/EJE-13-1044. Epub 2014 May 6.
Lee et al (2007) and Ferron et al. (2008) reported that Osteocalin acts directly on the β-cells in the pancreas to increase insulin secretion, and at the same time influences fat cells to release the hormone adiponectin, which increases sensitivity to insulin.
[a] Lee NK, Sowa H, Hinoi E, Ferron M, Ahn JD, Confavreux C, Dacquin R, Mee PJ, McKee MD, Jung DY, Zhang Z, Kim JK, Mauvais-Jarvis F, Ducy P, Karsenty G (August 2007). "Endocrine regulation of energy metabolism by the skeleton". Cell 130 (3): 456–69. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2007.05.047. PMC 2013746. PMID 17693256 [b] Ferron M., Hinoi E., Karsenty G., and Ducy P., “Osteocalcin differentially regulates β cell and adipocyte gene expression and affects the development of metabolic diseases in wild-type mice,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 105, no. 13, pp. 5266–5270, 2008.
Alfadda et al.(2013) also found that higher OC was associated with metabolic syndrome and therefore might influence the risk of cardiovascular disease in humans.
Alfadda A.A., Masood A, Shaik S.A, Dekhil H, and Goran M.,Association between Osteocalcin, Metabolic Syndrome, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors: Role of Total and Undercarboxylated Osteocalcin in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes. International Journal of Endocrinology Volume 2013 (2013), Article ID 197519, 6 pages
Yeap et al. (2012) in a prospective analysis on 3542 adult men aged between 70 and 90 years, reported that higher OC predicted cardiovascular disease (CVD)-related mortality.
Yeap B. B., Chubb S.A. P., Flicker L., McCaul K. A., Ebeling P. R., Hankey G. J., Beilby J. P., Norman P. E. Associations of total osteocalcin with all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in older men. The Health In Men Study. Osteoporosis International, February 2012, Volume 23, Issue 2, pp 599-606
Garcia et al. (2012) reported that elevated Osteocalin was associated with higher prevalence of carotid plaques, aortic calcification, and increased intima-media thickness.
R. Reyes-Garcia, P. Rozas-Moreno, J. J. Jimenez-Moleon et al., “Relationship between serum levels of osteocalcin and atherosclerotic disease in type 2 diabetes,” Diabetes & Metabolism, vol. 38, no. 1, pp. 76–81, 2012
Galli and Ganigga (1987) found that patients with Downs syndrome had significantly elevated levels of Osteocalin compared to normal children.
Galli M., Ganiggia I. Serum levels of osteocalin in normal children and Down’s Syndrome. Paeiatrics, Pan. Med, 29, 139-142, 1987
Takahashi et al. (2001) published findings in the Journal of Epidemiology
which reported a significant association between water fluoridation and cancer.
Takahashi and research associates undertook regression analysis of cancer incident
rates and water fluoridation in the USA, comparing fluoridated and non fluoridated
states. Of the 36 cancer sites in males and females examined 23 (69%) were
significantly associated with water fluoridation. Among them were cancer of
the colon, brain, pancreas, liver, kidney, gallbladder, urinary bladder, ovarian,
bone, Hodgkin's diseases and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, multiple myeloma and
leukaemia.
The reason given for the higher cancer incidence rates in fluoridated communities
was the extended presence of fluoride in plasma and urine and the infusion of
fluoride into the brain and other organs.
“This atlas shows major variations,
sometimes more than two-fold, in
the risk of many cancers across the
island.”
“ The relative risk of developing
many of the cancers presented here
was higher in RoI than in NI. The
risk of non-melanoma skin cancer,
melanoma, leukaemia, bladder,
pancreas and brain/central nervous
system cancer was significantly
higher for both sexes in RoI. For men, the risk of prostate cancer
was higher in RoI and, for women,
cancer of the oesophagus and
cervix.”
Leukaemia
“The risk of leukaemia was 23% higher for men and 17%
higher for women in the ROI than in NI. There was a
markedly higher risk of leukaemia in RoI than in NI, a
surprising finding given the low level of international
variation in Europe.”
Prostate cancer
“The risk of diagnosis of prostate cancer was 29% higher in the ROI than in NI.”
Bladder cancer
“Bladder cancer risk was 8% higher for men and 14% higher for women in the
ROI than in NI.”
Melanoma of the skin
“Melanoma risk was 8% higher for men & 14% higher for women in the ROI than NI.”
NON MELANOMA SKIN CANCER
Non-melanoma skin cancer was 18% higher in women and 15% higher in men in RoI
than in NI.
KIDNEY CANCER
During 1995-2007, the number of new cases diagnosed showed an overall increase of
approximately 6% per annum in RoI; the rate of increase in NI was 3%.
OESOPHAGEAL CANCER
The risk was 8% higher for women in the ROI than in NI.
PANCREATIC CANCER
Pancreatic cancer risk was 22% higher for Females and 12%
higher for males in the ROI than in NI.
CANCER OF THE CERVIX UTERI
The risk of cancer of the cervix was significantly higher, by 11%, in RoI than NI.
BRAIN AND OTHER CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM CANCER
The risk of brain and CNS cancer was 20% higher for females and 10% higher for
males in ROI than in NI.
CERVICAL CANCER
The risk of cervical cancer was 10% higher in the ROI than in NI.
Most of the areas with low risk for prostate cancer are communities with non-fluoridated water supplies.
“The proximity of the two countries
in Ireland would suggest that
there shouldn’t be too much
variation in levels of
different cancers between
the two countries. However
some statistically significant
differences in incidence rates
(EASIR) exist with rates lower in
Northern Ireland than Republic
of Ireland for pancreatic cancer,
bladder cancer, cancer of the
brain, leukaemia, male colorectal
cancer, female breast cancer,
female melanoma, prostate
cancer and cervical cancer.”
ROI &NI Cancer Trends:
Females For females colorectal and cervical
cancer decreased between 1994 and
2004 in Northern Ireland but remained
static in Republic of Ireland.
Female liver cancer, kidney cancer,
lymphoma and lung cancer all
increased in Republic of Ireland but
remained STATIC in Northern
Ireland.
Among females rates of new cases
diagnosed increased significantly
between for liver cancer, lung cancer,
melanoma, breast cancer, cancer of
the uterus, kidney cancer and
lymphoma.
ROI &NI Cancer Trends:
Males “Between 1994 and 2004 cancer rates
decreased for males aged 0-49 in Northern
Ireland and increased in Republic of
Ireland.”
“For males rates of new cases diagnosed
increased significantly between 1994 and
2004 for liver cancer, melanoma, prostate
cancer (1997-2004 only), testicular cancer,
kidney cancer, lymphoma and leukaemia.”
“For males liver cancer, kidney cancer,
lymphoma and leukaemia
all increased in Republic of Ireland
while remaining static in Northern
Ireland.”
“For the majority of cancers
rates are lower in Northern
Ireland than Republic of
Ireland. The differences in
cancer rates are significant
for colorectal cancer in
males, cancer of the
pancreas, bladder, brain and
leukaemia in both sexes and
cervical cancer in women.”
Cancer Mortality
“Mortality was generally
higher in Republic of
Ireland, with male rates
3.9% and female rates
3.6% lower in Northern
Ireland.”
The National Cancer Registry
of Ireland and the Northern
Ireland Cancer Registry
reported that between 1994
and 2004 “incidence rates for
chronic lymphocytic
(lymphoblastic) leukaemia
were 53.5% higher for males
and 53.1% higher for
females in the RoI compared
to NI.”
According to the National Cancer Registry Ireland (2007) the highest incidence rates
for male leukaemia globally are to be found in :
New Zealand,
USA,
Australia,
Canada and
the Republic of Ireland
No reference is made to the fact that fluoridation of water is practiced in EACH of
these countries.
The National Cancer Registry Ireland and the Northern Ireland
Cancer Registry (2009) reported that “while the world age-
standardised incidence rates of leukaemia in NI are
comparable to the European Union; rates for the ROI are
significantly higher than those in European Union or the UK”
Nowhere does it mention however, that the ROI is the only
country in the EU with a policy of mandatory fluoridation of
its population.
The highest cancer incidence in Europe is found in the ROI and the Czech Republic. National Water fluoridation programmes only ever existed in two European countries in Europe, in the ROI and the Czech Republic. Fluoridation of water commenced in the Czech Republic in 1958 and ceased with independence from the USSR in 1988. The ROI is now the only country in the EU with a mandatory national water fluoridation policy.
Comparison of Cancer incidence for RoI and European Region
Global incidence of Cancer
The provinces in Canada with the lowest level of fluoridation have the lowest prevalence of prostate cancer
Highest prevalence of Prostate cancer in Finland Are to be found in communities with high natural levels of fluoride in water.
The Institute of Public Health’s All-
Ireland study (2001) documented
significantly increased mortality
from chronic disease in the RoI
compared to NI.
Significantly increased mortality
was reported for endocrine
disorders, immune disorders,
neurological disorders, metabolic
disorders, hormone related cancers,
musculoskeletal diseases and bone
diseases such as arthritis in the ROI
than in NI.
The extraordinary differences in mortality for
these diseases between the two regions suggests
an association with fluoride intoxication, however
no mention was made of the fact that the ROI is
fluoridated.
Diabetes mellitus (ICD-9 250) 1989-1998
“The directly standardised
mortality rate for persons was
significantly higher in the
RoI than it was in NI
(372% higher).”
Endocrine, nutritional
and metabolic diseases (ICD-9 240-278) 1989-1998
“The directly standardised
mortality rate for persons
was significantly higher in
the RoI than it was in NI
(245% higher).”
Sudden infant death
syndrome (ICD-9 798.0) 1989-1998
“The directly standardised
mortality rate for persons
was significantly higher in
the RoI than it was in NI
(210% higher).”
Rheumatoid arthritis
and osteoarthritis
(ICD-9 714-715) 1989-
1998
“The directly standardised
mortality rate for persons
was significantly higher in
the RoI than it was in NI
(166% higher).”
Diseases of the blood and
blood-forming organs,
immunological disorders
(ICD-9 279-289) 1989-1998
“The directly standardised
mortality rate for persons
was significantly higher in
the RoI than it was in NI
(148% higher).”
Diseases of the
musculoskeletal
system/connective tissue
(ICD-9 710-739) 1989-
1998
“The directly standardised
mortality rate for persons
was significantly higher in
the RoI than it was in NI
(122% higher).”
Mental and behavioural
disorders
(ICD-9 290-319) 1989-1998
“The directly standardised
mortality rate for persons
was significantly higher in
the RoI than it was in NI
(53% higher).”
Diseases of the nervous
system and the sense organs
(ICD-9 320-389) 1989-1998
“The directly standardised
mortality rate for persons
was significantly higher in
the RoI than it was in NI
(47% higher).”
Note : These figures differ from previous illustrations as they are reported crude Rates.
The differences in mortality between the lowest and the highest socio-economic population in NI and the RoI are extraordinary. In every disease or disorder significantly higher mortality was reported in the ROI.
As infant exposure to fluoride Increased from 1980 onwards in the USA, due to changes in infant feeding practices, Childhood asthma rates doubled and infant mortality from asthma increased Three Fold.
As infant exposure to fluoride Increased from 1980 onwards in the USA, the prevalence of dental fluorosis doubled along with childhood diabetes and obesity. In addition childhood cancers Increased and childhood neurological disorders increased to unprecedented levels
From 1980 onwards, as childhood infant exposure increased dramatically, the prevalence of Hepatic (liver) and Teratoma (ovarian) cancer s in female infants under 1 year of age increased by 600%. The prevalence of cancer of the nervous system among male infants under 1 year of age increased by 280% and neuroblastoma cancer increased by 50%. Significant increases Were also reported for Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Leukaemia and Brain and central nervous system cancers.
Breast cancer incidence has also increased in parallel with increased fluoridation of public water supplies in the USA.
Fluoride is a pulmonary toxin. As childhood exposure to fluoride increased with changing infant feeding practices, the prevalence of childhood asthma increased to unprecedented levels in every country or community with water fluoridation programmes. Increases were most pronounced in populations with low prevalence of breast feeding.
Currently the highest prevalence of asthma in Europe is to be found in the Republic of Ireland. Asthma is the most common and fastest growing chronic disease in the RoI and almost €500 million is directly spent on asthma care every year. The Republic of Ireland has the highest hospitalization rate for asthma for boys and girls among European counties. The RoI also has one of the highest mortality rates from asthma in Europe.
Pediatric Asthma
46,363 bed days
used over ten year
study period
Most common age group – 0-4 years
In 2007, there was a 30% decline in hospital admissions for asthma
among children under 15 years of age in the ROI.
The largest decline observed among children aged 0-4years.
What the report failed to note was that in mid 2007,
the concentration of fluoride added to Irish Drinking
Water was reduced by 30 per cent.
The most effected by this reduction are children under
4 years of age.
The same year water fluoride levels reduced paediatric
asthma hospitalizations fell by the largest percentage
in recent history. The percentage decline was 27%.
It’s not just respiratory disease that increased post fluoridation. Deaths from cardiovascular disease increased significantly in the immediate period post fluoridation in the Republic of Ireland
Similar to Ireland, it was documented that mortality from cardiovascular disease increased significantly in Grand Rapids and Newburgh post commencement of fluoridation
“The main conclusion of our study is that chronic kidney disease is
aggravated even by low concentrations of fluoride, which in turn
accelerates medial vascular calcification.”
“In summary, the effects of fluoride on renal function and vascular health
are more complicated than expected. Our findings could help to decide whether
the use of fluoride to improve the dental health of the population through
indiscriminate practices, such as adding it to municipal drinking water, should be
reconsidered and should be replaced by a fluoridation policy based on the
health status of individuals.”
“Medial vascular calcification (MAC) in an increasingly recognized problem in patients
with diabetes and patients with chronic kidney disease. Calcification of the
media is associated with significant morbidity and mortality.”
Ref: Al-Aly Z. Medial vascular calcification in diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney
disease: the role of inflammation. Cardiovasc Hematol Disord Drug Targets. 2007 Mar;7(1):1-6.
“Medial vascular calcification is associated with cardiovascular mortality, coronary
heart disease (CHD) events, stroke, and lower extremity amputation in patients
with non–insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.”
“MAC leads to the stiffening of the elastic layer of the arterial wall.”
“In newly diagnosed patients with Non–Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus MAC is the
most powerful predictive marker of future cardiovascular mortality even after adjustment for
cardiovascular risk factors.”
Ref: Lehto S, et al. A Neglected Harbinger of Cardiovascular Complications in Non–Insulin-Dependent
Diabetes Mellitus, Medial Artery Calcification, Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology.
1996; 16: 978-983
In ending, can Ireland learn anything from our European neighbours?
How Sweden changed its policy to end water
fluoridation
The research group around Dr. Anders Thylstrup, Dr. Gillberg, Dr.
Jan Sallstrom, Dr Agnetha Sallstrom and Dr Avid Carlson (Nobel
Laureate-2001) revealed that the Government experts of the National
Board of Health and Welfare who were advocating fluoridation of
water were both ignorant concerning basic
physiological knowledge and were bluffing with
statistics on caries reduction and fluorosis; following
their presentation of scientific facts the decision process turned against water
fluoridation in Sweden.
Sweden also rejected fluoridation on the
recommendation of a special Fluoride
Commission, which included among its
reasons that: "The combined and long-
term environmental effects of fluoride are
insufficiently known."
Source: Report of Swedish Fluoride
Commission. Stockholm 1981.