Original Fluoride City Considers A Re-examination Of Its Safety

Grand Rapids Michigan was the first city in the world to fluoridate it's water. They even have a monument dedicated to it. Now the city in pondering whether or not it was a good idea. Some 63 years later, Grand Rapids is considering dropping fluoride from it's water due to concerns surrounding unanswered questions raised by recent studies that link fluoride to bone cancer and thyroid problems.

In the past, it has been common to stereotype the anti-fluoride movement as a group of nuts in tinfoil hats. It's getting harder and harder to do that, especially when the lead researcher of the US Government's own 2006 National Academy of Sciences report (who had been tasked with reviewing Fluoride's safety at 4ppm) noted that:

We were not able to rule out a carcinogenic effect of fluoride. We reported that fluoride exposure is plausibly associated with a number of other health effects, including neurotoxicity, gastrointestinal problems, and endocrine problems, and that even though these effects are not necessarily specific to fluoride exposure, the associations cannot be ruled out and need further study. (PDF Link)

Think about that statement, along with the fact that the government never safety tested fluoride before adding it to drinking water. The NRC report noted that the current FDA limits for water fluoridation were clearly not safe and were likely leading to an increase in bone fractures, a particular problem among the elderly. Overall, there was consensus among the committee that there is scientific evidence that under certain conditions fluoride can weaken bone and increase the risk of fractures (PDF Link).

Harvard Study says there IS a link between fluoridated water and cancer

This one seems to be buried, but guess what? A Harvard University study just published in their Journal, Cancer Causes and Control, says that boys who drink fluoridated water are FIVE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO GET A RARE BONE CANCER than boys who drink fluoridated water. The cancer, osteosarcoma is frequently fatal. This study confirms the findings of other studies by the National Institutes of Health as well as a study by the New Jersey Health Department.

The study's conclusion notes that:

Our exploratory analysis found an association between fluoride exposure in drinking water during childhood and the incidence of osteosarcoma among males but not consistently among females.

This study is different from another 'just published' study from the National Academy of Sciences that showed EPA limits for water fluoridation left water drinkers at an increased risk of dental fluorosis and bone fractures. That study has largely been brushed off because of the supposed benefits of fluoride. This study might be more problematic.

Looks like all those anti-fluoride people might not be nuts after all....