Join the Fluoridation Free coalition in calling for a nationwide ban on fluoridation of public drinking water

The long awaited report on the Far North fluoridation trial has finally been released, following presentation to the Far North District Council last Thursday.

A highlight of the report was the results from unfluoridated Kawakawa and Moerewa. These showed a remarkable improvement compared with the fluoridated towns, which showed far less.

The conclusion and recommendations were as written, and announced, in 2006 – the year before the trial began. “The researchers pre-determined the outcome, and have not let facts get in their way” says Mark Atkin of Fluoride Action Network NZ, after analysing the report. “No wonder the DHB refuses to release the raw data for independent statistical analysis and peer review” he adds, “It would show what a sham this study is.”

Fluoridation causes more premature births, one of the top causes of infant death in the USA. It poses the greatest risk to poor non-white mothers and babies. This is the finding State University of New York researchers from data spanning 1993 to 2002.

Research in Chile in the 1970s also showed fluoridation caused an increase in infant death rates. Chile stopped fluoridation as a result.

Children's cavity rates are similar whether water is fluoridated or not, according to data published in the July 2009 Journal of the American Dental Association by dentist J.V. Kumar of the New York State Health Department.

The data was from 30,000 children, first analysed in 1990. Kumar confirms the analysis of John Yiammouyanis, who showed then that there was no benefit from fluoridation. Errors in the official Government analysis at the time incorrectly claimed an 18% reduction in tooth decay from fluoridation; errors Yiammouyanis exposed.

The heath risk to babies fed baby formula made with fluoridated water, especially infants up to 12 months old, has been confirmed in the October Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA).
The research team concludes,  "Most infants from birth to age 12 months who consume predominantly powdered [or] liquid concentrate formula are likely to exceed the upper tolerable limit [of fluoride] if the formula is reconstituted with fluoridated water (0.7 - 1.2 ppm).”
The warning was first issued in 2006, having been identified in New Zealand in the 1990s - the NZ/Australian standard for infant formula background report states that using fluoridated water to make it up poses a risk of dental fluorosis.The NZ Ministry of Health continues to deny there is a risk.

Just as a deficiency of iodine reduces intelligence by reducing thyroid function, as recently publicised, so too does fluoride. This is the finding of 23 published studies from China, many recently translated into English – by an average of 4 to 5 IQ points. Although seemingly small, this shift significantly increases the number of severely intellectually retarded children.

The harm from fluoride, added by a minority of local councils to New Zealand water supplies in the belief it reduces tooth decay, is accentuated in people with iodine deficiency according to the leading international review, in 2006 – a double whammy.

16 September 2009

The Hawkes Bay District Health Board has been forced to retract information it provided the Central Hawkes Bay District Council on why it believes fluoridation should be continued in Waipukurau.  The incorrect information has already been sent to all households in Waipukurau.

11 September 2009

Fluoride Action Network Dunedin is pleased with results from a recent Dunedin City Council telephone survey ranking fluoridation consultation at number four on the list of concerns about water issues both now and in the future.

"We are very pleased that the public feel that consultation about fluoridation is a high priority" says Olive McRae, Dunedin campaign manager for Fluoride Action Network Dunedin.

7 September 2009

A new study shows that “arthritis” alone costs the health system (i.e. taxpayer) $2 billion per year (1.2% GDP). And it will keep increasing unless something is done, according to the authors.

“But much ‘arthritis’ is actually misdiagnosed skeletal fluorosis, caused by over-exposure to fluoride – the toxin put in many of NZ’s water supplies - according to the World Health Organisation. Doctors are not trained to diagnose this in NZ” advises Mark Atkin, Fluoride Action Network NZ’s co-representative on the Fluoridation-free NZ Coalition.

27 August 2009

The UK South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) is facing a legal challenge over its recent decision to fluoridate areas of Southampton against the overwhelming weight of public opinion, and the vote of 6 out of 7 local Councils. The SHA has allowed £400,000 (about $NZ 1 million) for legal costs to defend the law suit.

 “The legal challenge itself is not about the pros and cons of the fluoridation, it’s about the fact that they have messed up how they have gone about the process,” said Sean Humber, of Leigh Day and Co, the solicitors handling the claimant’s case.

1 July 2009

From the UK to Australia, State attempts to force water fluoridation on the population is meeting with extreme resistance on the ground it breaches human rights. Even those who believe fluoridation helps teeth are joining in the resistance on human rights grounds.

24 June 2009

When a powerful state like California deems fluoride to be a serious danger to human health we in New Zealand need to pay attention” says Mary Byrne, Fluoridation-free NZ’s spokesperson from Fluoride Action Network NZ.

To respect the people’s wishes or not to respect – that is the question on which Felicity Dumble of the Waikato DHB and Neil Croucher of the Northland DHB contradict each other. And the Otago DHB cannot decide whether it cares about children’s, and especially poor children’s, teeth at all.

The Otago District Health Board announced last week it will close 85 school dental clinics in the region. Southland’s clinics will also be closed. The closure is strongly opposed by the Otago Primary Principals Association, which predicts half Otago’s children will not be able to properly access dental care under the new hub-based scheme.

Paradoxically, the move follows the recent announcement of big reductions in child tooth decay in Canterbury, through its “lift the lip” programme, which increased access of children to dental services before tooth decay set in.

10 May 2009

Blood-fluoride levels are significantly higher in patients with osteosarcoma (bone cancer), according to research published in Biological Trace Element Research (April 2009). Osteosarcoma patients were compared with those with other types of bone tumours, and patients with musculo-skeletal pain.

"This report proves a link between raised fluoride levels in [blood] serum and osteosarcoma," writes the research team leader.

9 May 2009

On 2 May 2009 seven national health-focused not-for-profit organizations formally launched a campaign to end fluoridation in New Zealand. Since 2000 the Ministry of Health has launched an ongoing campaign against the rights and health of New Zealanders by working, often subversively, to expand its fluoridation program. This website is operated by the Campaign coalition.

(4 May 2009)

"Let's hope that the public water supplies of Kaikohe and Kaitaia remain fluoride-free after the FNDC's Council meeting on Thursday April 30' says fluoride-free campaigner Jackie Pou.

"The sole aim of the Northland DHB, is to get our FNDC Councillors to vote so that the water has to be re-dosed again with sodium fluoride poison.

Media release: Jackie Pou, Iwi; Te Rarawa, Nga Puhi, Te Roroa (27 April 2009)

Ethics approval for the fluoridation trial, forced on the people of Kaitaia and Kaikohe from March 2007 to March 2009, was obtained by misrepresentations by the applicant, the Northland DHB, according to documents obtained under the Official Information Act.

Media release: Citizens Collective for Fluoride-Free Water (15 April 2009)

Nine months into the fluoridation experiment being conducted on the people of Kaitaia and Kaikohe, tooth decay was 64% higher in the fluoridated towns - according to the latest Government statistics.

Media release: Fluoride Action Network (April 6 2009)