Open Forum

Israel's Ministry of Health has declared a moratorium on fluoridation, even though that nation's parliament just passed a bill in 2000 forcing every public water supply to be fluoridated!

The decision to stop fluoridation plans while a reassessment of the issue takes place is good news for the health and freedom of Israel's people.

In Europe Ireland is the only country to have mandatory fluoridation. Irish political leaders, health care workers and private citizens are among those resisting their nation's 41-year-old mandatory fluoridation law, according to The Irish Independent of July 2.

Ireland's fluoridation opponents are concerned with studies linking fluoridated water to such health issues as skeletal fluorosis (brown staining of teeth), lower IQ levels, thyroid disorders, hip fractures and cancer. Claims have also been made that forced fluoridation is unethical and is especially harmful to the poor and the undernourished, the Irish publication explained.

Children in Uganda, Africa have played a significant role in fluoride testing recently researched by Clinical Oral Investigations.

Studies indicated that children who lived in high fluoride water districts in Uganda had more tooth decay and more severe dental fluorosis than youngsters in low fluoride water districts, according to a July 2 New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. news release.

Ugandan children exposed to the very least fluoride had the best teeth. Diets and socioeconomic backgrounds of the tested children were similar.

In the United States children (and adults) are awash in fluoride. The U.S. Surgeon General claims there is an epidemic of tooth decay in this country. Too much fluoride perhaps?

While profluoridationists cling to the belief that fluoride added to drinking water reduces tooth decay (Dispatch, 7-24), progressive persons in the world community continue to question and reject the hoax of artificial water fluoridation!

Elaine Jensen Chesley

Brainerd