Health dept. issues fluoridation warning
By HOWARD WEISS-TISMAN, Reformer Staff

Tuesday, December 19
BELLOWS FALLS -- The Vermont Department of Health is warning parents
not to give any fluoridated water to infants under 12 months of age.
The recommendation comes on the heels of a recent statement from the
American Dental Association that also asks parents not to mix infant
formula with fluoridated water because of the risk it poses to the
children.

It is the strongest statement to date from either the ADA or the health
department concerning the health risks of the compound that is added to
many municipal water supplies in the country to battle tooth decay.

"This warning went out to every dentist and pediatrician in the state,"
said Steve Arthur, oral health director for the Department of Health.
"We now know that when dealing with infants that less is best."

The health department, and the ADA, still strongly endorse the use of
fluoride in public water supplies and the groups also encourage people
who do not get fluoride from their water to take daily supplements.

But recent research has proved that babies who are getting most of
their nourishment from powdered formula take in much more fluoride, per
weight, than older children.

The new studies show that high levels of fluoride in infants can cause
discoloration of the teeth known as fluorosis.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends breast feeding
exclusively for the first six months, the health department said in a
press release.

Arthur said prior to the new recommendation both the ADA and the
Vermont Department of Health warned that parents should probably be
aware of the amount of fluoride given to young children.

Arthur called fluorosis a minor health problem and he said the warning
was given out to let parents know about the risk.

"This corrects a contrasting and confusing recommendation," Arthur
said. "We are saying that we now have this information and we want to
get it out so parents can make the choice."

Water has natural levels of fluoride, and Arthur said that parents
should have their water tested if they use well water to mix formula.

The battle over adding fluoride to public water has raged across the
state over the past few years.

In 2001, Brattleboro residents voted not to add the chemical to the
town's water.

Last year voters in Bellows Falls rejected a proposal that would have
stopped the use of fluoride. Bellows Falls adds fluoride to its water.

Burlington also recently decided to continue adding fluoride to the
city's water.

Peter Taylor, executive director of the Vermont State Dental Society,
said that even with last month's ADA statement and the more recent
Vermont Department of Health warning, most dentists in the state still
support water fluoridation.

"The ADA said there was a small possibility of fluorosis in infants and
it is important that parents know about that," Taylor said. "Community
water fluoridation is still good public health policy."

But Michael Connett, an anti-fluoride activist who works for the
Fluoride Action Network, said the health department warning is an
important wake-up call and should not be taken lightly.

For years, Connett said, both the ADA and the Vermont Health Department
have been hesitant to do anything but fully endorse the use of
fluoride.

A recent article in the British medical journal, The Lancet, reported
that fluoride may also damage a child's developing brain.

And on Oct. 14, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration notified bottled
water manufacturers that they can not claim that fluoridated water that
is marketed to infants prevents tooth decay.

Adding fluoride to public water forces users to ingest the chemical
whether they want it or not, Connett said. He called the practice
reckless.

"It took them 60 years to finally acknowledge that fluoride is
dangerous for infants," said Connett. "If fluoride is not safe for
everybody than it is not safe for anyone. Period."

Howard Weiss-Tisman can be reached at hwtisman@reformer.com or (802)
254-2311, ext. 279.
 

http://www.reformer.com/localnews/ci_4865372