Arsenic in my Fluoride? CDC admits Yes

New
York – March 12, 2007 -- Trace amounts
of arsenic are found in fluoride chemicals added to drinking water supplies,
reports the U.S. Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) website.
(1)

Fluoridation is a controversial attempt to reduce tooth
decay in tap-water consumers.

Fluoridation chemicals - sodium fluoride, sodium
fluorosilicate, and fluorosilicic acid (FSA) – are all derived from the
manufacture of phosphate fertilizer, reports the CDC.  Trace amounts of unwanted contaminants, such
as antimony, barium, beryllium, arsenic and others, are allowed to remain in
fluoridation chemicals before flowing through America’s
faucets (2)

The CDC reports, tests by National Sanitation Foundation
(NSF) revealed arsenic was present in sample batches of FSA. When trace amounts
were present, the treated water had an average of 0.43 parts per billion (ppb)
of arsenic, with a high of 1.66 ppb attributable to the fluoride additive.
(2)

The NSF sets the allowable level of
arsenic in fluoridation chemicals at 2.5 ppb. The maximum contaminant level
(MCL) of arsenic in treated water is 10 ppb, set by the Environmental Protection
Agency. But the maximum contaminant level goal (MCLG) of arsenic in drinking
water is zero (5) and
is
based on health risks; however, the actual level permitted (MCL) is above 0, to
account for difficulty in removing it or in measuring it.
(6)

 “No water company
should purposely be adding arsenic to water supplies –even when it’s attached to
a chemical perceived to be beneficial,” says
Beeber.

Trace levels of arsenic in drinking water increase a
person's risk of developing cancer, according to a report from the prestigious
US National Academy of Sciences. “People drinking water containing just one part
per billion of arsenic have an increased risk of developing bladder or lung
cancer of one in 1,000,” reports New Scientist magazine.
(3)

In an analysis of 25 states, the National Resources  Defense Council  found 
about 8,000 U.S. water systems, serving 57,000,000 people, contained
arsenic levels at 1 ppb or higher.(4)

“Fluoridation has proven useless in fighting tooth decay
in America’s low-income
population as the recent unfortunate ‘tooth-decay’ death of  a 12-year-old Maryland boy living in a fluoridated area has
proven,” says lawyer Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to
Fluoridation. “No child is or ever was fluoride-deficient. But many are
dentist-deficient,” says Beeber.

 “Besides, modern
science establishes that fluoridation is ineffective at reducing tooth decay,
harmful to health and a waste of taxpayer money,” says
Beeber.

"We're glad the CDC finally admits that arsenic can be
found in fluoridation chemicals. But CDC should go further and list all
undesirable chemicals and impurities allowed in the fluoridation chemicals, and
make it publicly known so consumers truly can make an informed choice," says
Beeber.

References:

(1) U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Dep’t of Health and Human Services – Water Fluoridation – Guidelines
& Recommendations – Water Fluoridation Additives (accessed March 11, 2007)
http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/engineering/wfadditives.htm

(2) April 24,2000 letter from NSF
International to State of Florida, Department of Public Health  http://www.fluoridealert.org/NSF-Letter.pdf

(3) New Scientist, “Trace arsenic in water
raises cancer risk,” by Emma Young, September 14, 2001 http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn1300

(4) National Resources Defense Council,
“Arsenic and Old Laws.” Chapter 1 - Arsenic has been found at levels of health
concern in the tap water of tens of millions of Americans in 25 states
http://www.nrdc.org/water/drinking/arsenic/chap1.asp  

(5) http://www.epa.gov/safewater/arsenic/index.html

(6) http://www.fluoridealert.org/thiessen-statement.pdf