- Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter #182
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- Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy Links to Learning
Disabilities,
- Attention Deficit and Behavior Disorders
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- SOURCE: Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 17(2), 1995
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- http://www.chem-tox.com/pregnancy/fluoride.htm
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- INTRODUCTION
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- Sodium Fluoride is currently added to the majority of
municipal water systems in the U.S. to prevent cavities in children. Its
use has risen rapidly since the 1950,s. Sodium Fluoride is also registered
with the EPA as a rat poison, although advocates say its use in low levels
in water poses no adverse health concerns. There has been considerable
research done on fluoride regarding cancer, birth defects, and risks to
the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems, however, very little
has been done on its neurological effects.
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- First Study to Find Neurological Deficits After Fluoride
Exposure
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- Chinese investigations have shown levels of fluoride
in drinking water at levels of 3-11 ppm affect the nervous system without
first causing physical malformations. Another Chinese study found Attention
Deficit Disorders in adult humans if sublingual drops containing 100 ppm
of sodium fluoride were administered. Sources of fluoride exposure include
processed beverages, toothpastes, mouth rinses, dietary supplements and
food. This is an exposure level potentially relevant to humans because
toothpastes contain 1000 to 1500 ppm fluoride and mouth rinses contain
230-900 ppm fluoride.
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- In the 1995 article appearing in the journal Neurotoxicology
and Teratology, Dr. Phyllis J Mullenix states,
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- "Still unexplored, however, is the possibility that
fluoride exposure is linked with subtle brain dysfunction. This is the
first study to demonstrate that central nervous system output is vulnerable
to fluoride, that the effects on behavior depend on the age at exposure
and that fluoride accumulates in brain tissues. Of course behaviors per
se do not extrapolate, but a generic behavioral pattern disruption as found
in this rat study can be indicative of potential for motor dysfunction,
IQ deficits and/or learning disabilities in humans. Substances that accumulate
in brain tissue potentiate concerns about neurotoxic risk."
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- Dr. Phyllis J. Mullenix
- Toxicology Department, Forsyth Research Institute, Boston,
MA
- JOURNAL TITLE: Neurotoxicity of Sodium Fluoride in Rats
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