Murray Rothbard on Fluoridation

FLUORIDATION REVISITED
by Murray Rothbard

Yes, I confess: I'm a veteran anti-fluoridationist, thereby – not for the first time – risking placing myself in the camp of "right-wing kooks and fanatics." It has always been a bit of mystery to me why left-environmentalists, who shriek in horror at a bit of Alar on apples, who cry "cancer" even more absurdly than the boy cried "Wolf," who hate every chemical additive known to man, still cast their benign approval upon fluoride, a highly toxic and probably carcinogenic substance. And not only let fluoride emissions off the hook, but endorse uncritically the massive and continuing dumping of fluoride into the nation's water supply.

First: the generalized case for and against fluoridation of water. The case for is almost incredibly thin, boiling down to the alleged fact of substantial reductions in dental cavities in kids aged 5 to 9. Period. There are no claimed benefits for anyone older than nine! For this the entire adult population of a fluoridated area must be subjected to mass medication!

The case against, even apart from the specific evils of fluoride, is powerful and overwhelming.

New York City Babies Are Fluoride-Overdosed

A recently uncovered document reveals that New York City infants are fluoride overdosed and risk fluoride-damaged teeth, especially when infant formula is mixed with NYC’s fluoride-laced public water supplies, reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc

To avoid moderate dental fluorosis (fluoride-damaged teeth) the Institute of Medicine  (1997) recommends 6-month-olds and younger consume only 0.01 milligrams fluoride daily.

However, a freedom-of-information obtained 1988 Featherstone report “A Study of Fluoride Intake in New York State Residents,”  reveals that NYC 6-month-olds consume unsafe levels (0.4 milligrams daily from food and beverages). Nationally, fluorosis afflicts 41% of adolescents and is rising in prevalence and severity.

The American Dental Association describes moderate dental fluorosis as All tooth surfaces affected; marked wear on biting surfaces; brown stain may be present” (2005 Fluoridation Facts)

Featherstone writes, “…tea and grape juice are high in fluoride.” (Some MD’s prescribe weak tea for babies’ tummy aches) and “Foods cooked with fluoridated water, such as rice and mashed potatoes, are high in fluoride.” While fluoride ingestion causes dental fluorosis, Featherstone says only topical application benefits teeth.

All infant formula contains fluoride at levels higher than recommended for 6-month-olds. (Journal of the American Dental Association )

Hidden fluoride in baby foods can also mar babies’ teeth, also, according to General Dentistry and Infant juices, too.

Also not publicized is evidence that fluorosis is more prevalent and severe in African Americans and known since 1962.

“Fluoride, neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy teeth, is a prescription drug with side effects. NYC government officials continue to overdose babies by mandating fluoridation,” says attorney Paul Beeber, NYSCOF President.

Another ignored 1990 study by the NYS DoH reported that fluoride can be harmful to kidney patients, diabetics and those with fluoride hypersensitivity even at "optimal" levels.

“There is no scientifically valid reason to continue fluoridation,” says Beeber. “Individuals should have the freedom to choose what chemicals or drugs to imbibe and not be forced by elected officials to consume a drug without their individual informed consent.”

NYC residents can help the newly-formed NYC Coalition Against Artificial Fluoridation which is working to stop fluoridation in NYC. (Contact nyc.caaf@gmail.com).

“Insist that NYC Mayor DiBlasio and the City Council stop forcing unnecessary, money-wasting, potentially health-robbing fluoride chemicals into your bodies via the water supplies,” says Beeber.

Of course, if you would have been reading Murray Rothbard, you would have known about the fluoride scam decades ago. He was warning us all in 1992!

 -RW