2 Mar 2015

Last entry

From now on I shall no longer continue to up date this blog. Below is the first record of our initial meeting to fight the decision of the PCT to ask the SHA to implement fluoridation.  Just seven of us.
It's taken seven years to stop them. The  NHS spent at least a £1,000,000 with the backing of the High Court yet despite this we won. Only this week two papers have been published about the link with obesity, ADHD and fluoridation confirming that truth was on our side . Fluoridation is neither safe nor effective.
Without the support of the people who took an interest to come to meetings and listen to the debates we could not have succeeded

I will continue with http://ukagainstfluoride.blogspot.co.uk/ I started  in 2005. Parts of the UK under threat find it useful to keep in touch with what is happening world wide.
Bill



This is the first entry in 2008 when we felt a separate web page was needed for HAF.

19 FEB 2008


First Meeting February 2008

Our first meeting was held in Southampton. The aim being to stop what is a national push to fluoridate all of England and Wales by Rt Hon Alan Johnson.
John Spottiswoode from the Green Party chaired the meeting

With little resources and no money it will be a Herculean task.
Ann Richards produced a outline of the possible campaign targets.
Dentists and Doctors.
In Ireland there is a group of 100 dentists who oppose fluoridation but it was felt that in Southampton it was most unlikely. The opinion being that no professional will risk his livelihood until about to retire.
Councils.
Worth convincing as they have voted against fluoridation in the past but now they cannot stop fluoridation as it is Strategic Health Authority that has the last word.
Primary Care Trusts
Having voted to ask the SHA to set up feasibility studies little chance of persuading them.
Water Companies
Well worth following up as they too are not happy to follow the government legislation.
Trade Unions
Again worth considering possible lead considered.
Rescue Services
Record of spillage world wide to be downloaded
General Public
Informing via media and posters/leaflets. Concern that the cogent requirement may rule out many of the individual letters of protest.

28 Feb 2015

David Harrison Councillor

Hampshire against fluoride
The Campaigning Group, “Hampshire Against Fluoride” met for possibly the last time this afternoon, for a very happy occasion.
They held a party to celebrate the success of the campaign to keep fluoride out of local tap water and to thank everyone who played an active part in the campaign.
It’s been a pleasure working with HAF and a good example of politicians, Lib Dem, Conservative and Green all pulling together, showing a united front to see off this threat.
Sometimes I wish I had a £1 for every time I was told that we wouldn’t be able to stop the health authorities from imposing this on the population. I’m glad we kept going.
It was certainly a victory for democracy and we may not have succeeded were it not for a lot of coverage from the local press.
Oddly enough, it was a little sad to realise that we wouldn’t be meeting up again. I made a few new friends and it was really nice to join them in celebrating what has been a local success with national implications.

Celebration party of HAF members after a successful campaign to stop fluoridation in Southampton




Sixty-nine members attended, guests included MP Julian Lewis and David Harrison councillor who both supported us throughout the campaign.
Excellent entertainment and catering thanks to Myra.



Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association

Abstract (provisional)

Background Epidemiological and animal-based studies have suggested that prenatal and postnatal fluoride exposure has adverse effects on neurodevelopment. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between exposure to fluoridated water and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States. Methods Data on ADHD prevalence among 4-17 year olds collected in 2003, 2007 and 2011 as part of the National Survey of Children’s Health, and state water fluoridation prevalence from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) collected between 1992 and 2008 were utilized. Results State prevalence of artificial water fluoridation in 1992 significantly positively predicted state prevalence of ADHD in 2003, 2007 and 2011, even after controlling for socioeconomic status. A multivariate regression analysis showed that after socioeconomic status was controlled each 1% increase in artificial fluoridation prevalence in 1992 was associated with approximately 67,000 to 131,000 additional ADHD diagnoses from 2003 to 2011. Overall state water fluoridation prevalence (not distinguishing between fluoridation types) was also significantly positively correlated with state prevalence of ADHD for all but one year examined. Conclusions Parents reported higher rates of medically-diagnosed ADHD in their children in states in which a greater proportion of people receive fluoridated water from public water supplies. The relationship between fluoride exposure and ADHD warrants future study.

Always further study never definitive results that are effective in producing change in policy. They will still continue with fluoridation.

Fluoride Water Poisoning In South America Leaves 40 Children In Hospital

40 Children have been hospitalised in Guatemalan, South America after being poisoned by fluoride in their water at a school fair.

Teachers had given the children, aged between seven and eleven years old, water which had fluoride tablets dissolved in them. The tablets caused numbness and vomiting in the children who were shortly after taken to hospital.

Doctors treated the children with intravenous solutions to counter the fluoride poisoning. Parents of the children at the school are angry that they were not informed of the plan to give the school kids fluoride tablets in the water and are demanding answers from authorities.

27 Feb 2015

Fluoride in Birmingham's water could cause depression and weight gain - scientists

Fears over fluoridated water have been denied by city health chiefs after a study of Birmingham residents suggested higher levels of thyroid conditions were leading to weight gain and depression.
Researchers investigated GP surgeries in the West Midlands which has the highest levels of water fluoridation in the country.
The team from the Centre for Health Services Studies at the University of Kent found doctors in the region had recorded 30 per cent higher than expected rates of underactive thyroid.
But Birmingham health bosses insisted there were no risks, emphasising this was just ‘one report’ against extensive research over the years – and said the city’s excellent teeth was a key benefit.
Researchers said GPs in the West Midlands were nearly twice as likely to report high hypothyroidism prevalence as Greater Manchester, where it is not added to drinking water.
The report said: “The findings of the study raise particular concerns about the validity of community fluoridation as a safe public health measure.”
Hypothyroidism symptoms can include tiredness, weight gain, mental slowing, and depression.
Nationally, research suggested up to 15,000 people could be suffering needlessly from thyroid problems which can cause depression, weight gain, fatigue and aching muscles.
Lead author Professor Stephen Peckham, from the Centre for Health Service Studies, said: “I think it is concerning for people living in those areas. The difference between the West Midlands, which fluoridates, and Manchester, which doesn’t was particularly striking. There were nearly double the number of cases in Manchester.
“Underactive thyroid is a particularly nasty thing to have and it can lead to other long-term health problems. I do think councils need to think again about putting fluoride in the water. There are far safer ways to improve dental health.”
The thyroid gland, which is found in the neck, regulates the metabolism as well as many other systems in the body. The study, which is published online in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, said the effects of fluoride on the thyroid have long been observed, but there have been no population studies that have examined this.
“The finding of this cross-sectional study has important implications for public health policy in the UK and in other countries where fluoride is added to drinking water or in other forms such as fluoridated milk and salt,” it added................

26 Feb 2015

High Fluoride in Drinking Water May Be Linked To Hypothyroidism

Professor Stephen Peckham Director, Centre for Health Services Studies Professor of Health Policy Department of Health Services Research and Policy London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Director, Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System University of KentMedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Professor Stephen Peckham

Director, Centre for Health Services Studies
Professor of Health Policy
Department of Health Services Research and Policy
London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Director, Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System University of Kent
Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: Community water fluoridation remains a controversial public health measure. There have been continued debates about both its effectiveness in the prevention of dental caries and also its safety. Previous studies have suggested that there is an association between fluoride ingestion and the incidence of hypothyroidism few population level studies have been undertaken. In April 2014 Public Health England published a monitoring report that used secondary analysis of routine health statistics to identify whether water fluoridation in England was associated with any adverse health outcomes. While hypothyroidism data is available this was not included in their monitoring report.  In England approximately 10% of the population lives in areas with community fluoridation schemes and hypothyroidism prevalence can be assessed from general practice data. Tt examine whether there is a relationship – as suggested in smaller studies – we used a cross-sectional study design using secondary data to develop binary logistic regression models of predictive factors for hypothyroidism prevalence at practice level using 2012 data on fluoride levels in drinking water, 2012/13 Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) diagnosed hypothyroidism prevalence data, 2013 General Practitioner (GP) registered patient numbers, and 2012 practice level Index of Multiple Deprivation scores. We found a positive association between fluoride levels and hypothyroidism. High hypothyroidism prevalence was found to be at least 30% more likely in practices located in areas with fluoride levels in excess of 0.3mg/L. This population study supports earlier hypotheses that fluoride is associated with hypothyroidism. In the UK water is fluoridated at 1ppm (1mg/L) and in areas where water is fluoridated the model predicts that after controlling for other factors, practice populations are significantly more likely to have higher levels ofhypothyroidism than those in non-fluoridated areas. Higher levels of fluoride in drinking water, therefore, provide a useful contribution for predicting prevalence of hypothyroidism. For example in contrasting two urban areas we found that practices located in the West Midlands (a wholly fluoridated area) are nearly twice as likely to report high hypothyroidism prevalence in comparison to Greater Manchester (non-fluoridated area).
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Response: The finding of this cross-sectional study has important implications for public health policy in the UK and in other countries where fluoride is added to drinking water or in other forms such as fluoridated milk and salt. In many areas of the world hypothyroidism is a major health concern and in addition to other factors – such as iodine deficiency – fluoride exposure should be considered as a contributing factor. To minimize the risk of increasing the prevalence of hypothyroidism, it is important, therefore, to limit fluoride ingestion from all sources. This would be particularly important in areas where iodine concentrations are low, given the potential action of fluoride as an iodine inhibitor. Consideration needs to be given to reducing fluoride exposure and public dental health interventions should stop interventions reliant on ingested fluoride and switch to topical fluoride and non-fluoride based interventions. The findings of the study raise particular concerns about the validity of community fluoridation as a safe public health measure.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Response: There are some limitations to this observational study but the use of large scale data and using practice populations has enabled greater confidence in the reported findings. However, future research which measures individual fluoride exposure would be useful.


Published on 25 Feb 2015
Unlike the US, the UK doesn't have universal fluoridation. This has allowed an epidemiological study comparing health effects, with the result being that those drinking fluoridated water are more likely to suffer from thyroid disorders leading to obesity and depression. You’ll be surprised at the fluoride concentrations that are correlated with disease and loss of IQ points.

25 Feb 2015

Is your tap water poisoning you?

 The troubling question on everyone's lips as scientists warn fluoride put in water to protect teeth could spark depression

  • Researchers have said the mineral could cause depression and weight gain
  • Brain impairment, kidney disease, bone disorders are possible side-effects
  • Public Health England has assured people that 'water fluoridation' is safe

By JOHN NAISH FOR THE DAILY MAIL
How safe is our tap water? It has long been a source of national pride that we can drink straight from our taps without trepidation.
But mounting scientific evidence shows that well-intentioned efforts to make our water healthier - by adding fluoride to prevent tooth decay - may actually be having serious long-term effects on our health.
Scientists warn that the risks of this controversial public health policy include brain impairment in children, liver and kidney disease, crippling bone disorders and, ironically, disfigured teeth.
Investigators also argue that fluoridation does not bring significant benefits over other health initiatives, such as encouraging children and adults to brush their teeth properly.
Scientists warn that the risks of 'water fluoridation' include brain impairment in children, liver and kidney disease, crippling bone disorders and, ironically, disfigured teeth
+2
Scientists warn that the risks of 'water fluoridation' include brain impairment in children, liver and kidney disease, crippling bone disorders and, ironically, disfigured teeth
Yesterday, a new danger was added to the risk list when researchers at the University of Kent warned that the mineral may be responsible for causing depression, weight gain and tiredness.
They argue that these debilitating symptoms are the result of hypothyroidism — the failure of the thyroid gland to produce hormones that regulate the metabolism. Their study, published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, says that areas of England with water fluoridation are linked to rates of hypothyroidism 30 per cent higher than expected.
The watchdog Public Health England moved to assure people that 'the totality of evidence, accumulated over decades of research, tells us that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure, and shows no association with reduced thyroid function'.

Fluoride in water is 'linked to thyroid problem which causes...

But Professor Stephen Peckham, who led the new study, said that instead of putting more fluoride in our water, the policy should be reversed: 'Consideration needs to be given to reducing fluoride exposure,' he said.
That may not be so easily done. More than five-and-a-half million of us already have tap water artificially fluoridated to the 'optimum' level of one part per million parts of water (1ppm), according to the British Fluoridation Society (BFS).
Areas of the country with fluoridation schemes include Cumbria, Cheshire, Tyneside, Northumbria, Durham, Humberside, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, the West Midlands and Bedfordshire.
A further 330,000 people drink supplies that are naturally fluoridated by rocks in the ground to the level of 1ppm — including residents of Hartlepool and Easington in the North East of England, Uttoxeter in Staffordshire and parts of North Hampshire and South Berkshire.
(Other parts of Britain, which are not artificially fluoridated and have low natural levels of fluoride in local rocks, see concentrations of 0.1ppm or even lower in their drinking water.)
Dangerous
That's about one in ten of the population exposed to the 1ppm fluoride level, says the BFS, which promotes the treatment of UK water.
The medicinal use of fluorides for the prevention of dental decay began in January 1945 when community water supplies in Grand Rapids, America, were fluoridated to 1ppm. But health concerns have meant that in recent years that level has been reduced in the U.S. to 0.7ppm.
Nonetheless, politicians and dentists here are pushing for more of us to have our water supplemented to that 1ppm level.
Only last month, leaders at the Royal College of Surgeons' faculty of dental surgery published a report saying greater fluoridation would cut the admission to hospital annually of some 26,000 children aged between five and nine for tooth decay. 'Water fluoridation is one way of overcoming that,' said the faculty's dean, professor Nigel Hunt.
In December, Labour shadow health secretary Andy Burnham pledged to make a priority of adding fluoride to water if his party wins the Election. 'It's a simple way to improve the health of children. There is no evidence it damages health,' he argued.
Public Health England moved to assure people that 'the totality of evidence, accumulated over decades of research, tells us that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure

Public Health England moved to assure people that 'the totality of evidence, accumulated over decades of research, tells us that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure
Certainly, it's recognised by the NHS that fluoride disrupts the process of decay by making enamel more resistant to acid attack — which is the cause of rotting teeth — and reducing plaque bacteria's ability to produce acid. The mineral also strengthens enamel in children's growing teeth.
However, if a chemical affects the human body in one way, it is almost certainly bound to change other things. And it is these side-effects that particularly alarm some scientists.
It is also worth noting that the mineral which occurs naturally in water is calcium fluoride, while the chemical used to supplement levels of water is sodium fluoride — which critics say can be more dangerous to health.
As well as specifically physical side-effects related to fluoridation, there are also concerns over its effect on our brains.
A 2012 analysis of previous studies found strong indications that fluoride supplementation may hinder children's intellectual development, causing on average a drop of seven IQ points.
Crippling
Fluoride in water may also harm internal organs. A Polish laboratory study found evidence of liver damage that seems to have been caused by the fluoride interfering with the way our bodies use antioxidants to defend against tissues breaking down.
There are also suspected links with kidney disease. One study has found an association between high levels of fluoride in the water and painful kidney stones, which were four times more common than in a similar area without high fluoride, researchers found.
The most obvious evidence of harm from fluoride supplementation is dental fluorosis, where teeth become mottled and discoloured by over-exposure. It is also possible that chronic bone disease skeletal fluorosis can be caused by ingesting large amounts of fluoride, which can lead to crippling arthritis, bone fractures and muscle weakness.
In response to the established risks, it is recommended by the U.S Environmental Protection Agency that an adult does not consume more than 3-4mg of fluoride per day — the equivalent of drinking three to four litres of water with 1ppm fluoride (the UK has established no maximum RDA of fluoride).
But it is more complicated than that. The dangers from exposure to fluoride have been increased over the past few years as the mineral has increasingly been added to commercial products — not only toothpaste but others such as baby milk formula.
Even tea can push you over the limit, especially in areas with fluoridated water. A study by Derby University found cheap supermarket tea is particularly high in the mineral, which occurs in it naturally. Four mugs of tea can contain as much as 6mg.
Nevertheless, local authorities are currently pushing, with the encouragement of Public Health England, to fluoridate more people's water.
But the backlash has begun. Earlier this month, protesters in Hull launched a campaign to halt the city council's plans to add fluoride to their water.
Figures show 43 per cent of children in Hull are suffering tooth decay, one of the worst rates in the country. However, local protesters, such as Paddy Holdsworth, of East Yorkshire Against Fluoride, fear the dangers of unwanted side-effects. 'This is compulsory medication,' he says. 'It is just crazy.'
Another obstacle lies in the path of the pro-fluoridation camp — a significant hole in their argument that mineral supplementation is the best way to improve mass dental health
About ten years ago, a review of previous evidence by York University researchers found that tooth decay in children across Europe had fallen, irrespective of fluoride in the water. Indeed, the countries showing the biggest decrease — Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark — do not fluoridate their supplies.
Sanctions
'This probably reflects use of fluoridated toothpastes and other factors, including perhaps nutrition,' said the investigators in the British Medical Journal, who concluded that the evidence 'on the potential benefits and harms of adding fluoride to water is relatively poor'.
This argument was perhaps unwittingly reinforced last year by national survey evidence from Public Health England itself. The authority warned that drinking fruit juice and squash from bottles and feeding cups was responsible for significant amounts of tooth decay, and called for under-threes to have milk and water.
And surely it is just such mass education — not mass medication — that in the long term will improve dental health.
Our health chiefs should treat us as adults. Rather than slipping something into our water, isn't it high time these authorities introduced sanctions against parents who fecklessly allow their children's teeth to rot?


24 Feb 2015

Daily Mail

























Click image to enlarge.

Dr Sandra White and Prof Coggon spring to fluoridation's defence.
Fizz: How the sugar content of a variety of soft drinks compares

Stop water fluoridation, says public health expert

New research led by a public health expert at the University of Kent suggests water fluoridation in England is linked to higher rates of underactive thyroid.

Professor Stephen Peckham, of the University’s Centre for Health Service Studies, says a switch to other approaches to protecting tooth health should be considered.

In research published in the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, Professor Peckham and the research team identified that water fluoridation above a certain level is linked to 30 per cent higher than expected rate of underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) in England.

The researchers looked at the 2012 levels of fluoride in the drinking water supply, using data provided by the Drinking Water Inspectorate for individual postcodes. They looked at the national prevalence of underactive thyroid diagnosed by family doctors in England in 2012-13 and recorded in their national quality and incentive scheme (QOF) returns. Complete data were provided for 7935 general practices out of a total of 8020.

The researchers also carried out a secondary analysis, comparing two built up areas, one of which (West Midlands) was supplied with fluoridated drinking water, and the other of which (Greater Manchester) was not.

After taking account of influential factors, such as female sex and older age, both of which are linked to increased risk of hypothyroidism, they found an association between rates of the condition and levels of fluoride in the drinking water. In areas with fluoride levels above 0.7mg/l, they found higher than expected rates of hypothyroidism than in areas with levels below this dilution.

High rates of hypothyroidism were at least 30% more likely in practices located in areas with fluoride levels in excess of 0.3mg/l. And practices in the West Midlands were nearly twice as likely to report high rates of hypothyroidism as those in Greater Manchester.

In England, around 10% of the population (6 million) live in areas with a naturally or artificially fluoridated water supply of 1mg fluoride per litre of drinking water.

Professor Peckham said that research was ‘observational’, so no definitive conclusions should be drawn about cause and effect. He also emphasised that the researchers were not able to take account of other sources of fluoride, often found in dental products and food and drink.

But he pointed out that the findings echo those of previous research and that while they were only able to look at diagnosed hypothyroidism, there might also be other cases of impaired thyroid function that have not yet been diagnosed - and treated.

Professor Peckham concluded that consideration needs to be given to reducing fluoride exposure. Public dental health interventions should ‘stop those reliant on ingested fluoride and switch to topical fluoride-based and non-fluoride-based interventions’, he said.

The research is published in the latest issue of the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, which is the official journal of the Society of Social Medicine. See here for the research: http://jech.bmj.com/lookup/doi/10.1136/jech-2014-204971

-ends-

For further information or interview requests at the University of Kent contact Martin Herrema in the press office.
Tel: 01227 823581/01634 888879
News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news
University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent

Note to editors

The Centre for Health Service Studies (CHSS) is a centre of research excellence that undertakes a wide range of health services research including clinical trials, research on the organisation and delivery of services, survey work, rapid evidence reviews and service evaluations and provides the NIHR Research Design Service in Kent. CHSS has particular methodological expertise in quantitative methods and service evaluation. CHSS has extensive experience of working collaboratively with healthcare staff and organisations. For more information see our website http://www.kent.ac.uk/chss

The University of Kent – the UK’s European university – was established at Canterbury in 1965. It has almost 20,000 students and operates campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. It has long-standing partnerships with more than 100 major European universities and many others across the world, including institutions in Argentina, China, Japan, USA, Canada, Malaysia and Peru.

Kent is one of the few universities to be consistently rated by its own students as one of the best in the UK for the quality of its teaching and academic provision. This includes its position amongst the top 10 multi-faculty universities for overall satisfaction in the 2013 National Student Survey, positioning it within a select band of institutions that have achieved an overall satisfaction rate of 90% and above. It was also ranked 20th in the 2014 Guardian University Guide, 28th in the Sunday Times University League Table 2013, and 28th in the Complete University Guide 2014.

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, Kent placed 24th out of 159 participating institutions in the UK for its world-leading research, while 97% of its academic staff work in schools or centres where the research is rated as either internationally or nationally excellent.

It is worth £0.6 billion to the economy of the South East, with its students contributing £211 million to that total. The University also supports directly or indirectly almost 6,800 jobs in the South East (source: Viewforth Consulting, 2009-10).
In 2012, Kent launched a campaign to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

23 Feb 2015

Are chemicals to blame for cancer

Are we all victims of chemicals?YOUR SAY: I wonder if any figures have been published comparing the increasing numbers of cancer cases per population in the 19th century and our recent 20th century?
I think cancer numbers in those centuries would show an alarming increase and it could be due to what we have been putting into our food, air and water.
It is increasingly alarming to read about all the chemicals that are being put into our foods such as dyes, preservatives and stabilisers.
Our air is polluted and recently our water was compulsorily "medicated" by fluoride.
Are we all victims of these foreign chemicals?
Recently, I was given a cake of soap and was horrified to read it contained 26 chemicals!
The most creepy paragraph recently was that in some insecticides sprayed on our crops there remained the possibility they could in the future to be found to alter our chromosomes!
If our chromosomes are in danger, so are our immune systems.
DOROTHY ROW, Toowoomba

22 Feb 2015



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