Academics speak against fluoride

Two anti-fluoridation academics spoke in Woy Woy recently about the safety of adding fluoride to Gosford's drinking water.

St Lawrence University professor of chemistry and director of the Fluoridation Action Network Dr Paul Connett and professor of environmental sciences and director of the Sustainability Centre Dr Mark Diesendorf presented studies and reviews from overseas.

"While the public were extremely interested, no health or government officials turned up to support fluoridation, although we did have an apology from Dr Peter Lewis from Central Coast Health," Wyong Ratepayers and Residents Association secretary Ms Sylvia Turner said.

"The only Gosford councillor to attend was Chris Holstein."

Dr Connett spoke about a panel of doctors, toxicologists and environmentalists who undertook a "significant" review in the US from which "alarming" information had arisen.

"I was very proud when this report was issued because I was the only scientist opposing fluoridation who had given invited testimony before this committee," Dr Connett said.

"Much of the scientific evidence I have offered for opposing fluoridation in Australia, and around the world, was vindicated in their report, although in a much more convincing way than I could have possibly achieved in my short presentations."

Ms Turner said that, in addition to the publication, there had been several other "important developments".

"These include the revelation that 32 per cent of American children are impacted by dental fluorosis (CDC, 2005); the November 2006 alert from the American Dental Association recommending that parents not use fluoridated tap water to make up baby formula and the publication of a paper from Harvard University showing an association between young boys consuming fluoridated water in their sixth, seventh and eighth years and a five to seven fold increased risk of osteosarcoma, a rare but frequently fatal bone cancer (Bassin, 2006)," Ms Turner said.

"It is important that the general public become aware of the situation and take action to protect their health by indicating to the local, state and federal governments their opposition and request for a moratorium on fluoridation until the appropriate Australian studies are undertaken."

Press release, 22 Oct 2007 Sylvia Turner, Wyong Shire Ratepayers and Residents Association Inc