AP EXCLUSIVE: US Says Too Much Fluoride in Water

[WestVirginiaRebel]

NY Times:

Fluoride in drinking water — credited with dramatically cutting cavities and tooth decay — may now be too much of a good thing. Getting too much of it causes spots on some kids' teeth.

A reported increase in the spotting problem is one reason the federal government said Friday it plans to lower the recommended levels for fluoride in water supplies — the first such change in nearly 50 years.

About 2 out of 5 adolescents have tooth streaking or spottiness because of too much fluoride, a surprising government study found recently. In some extreme cases, teeth can even be pitted by the mineral — though many cases are so mild only dentists notice it. The problem is generally considered cosmetic.

Health officials note that most communities have fluoride in their water supplies, and toothpaste has it too. Some kids are even given fluoride supplements.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is proposing changing the recommended fluoride level to 0.7 milligrams per liter of water. And the Environmental Protection Agency will review whether the maximum cutoff of 4 milligrams per liter is too high.

The standard since 1962 has been a range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the splotchy tooth condition, fluorosis, is unexpectedly common in kids ages 12 through 15. And it appears to have grown much more common since the 1980s.

"One of the things that we're most concerned about is exactly that," said an administration official who was not authorized to speak publicly before the release of the report. The official described the government's plans in an interview with The Associated Press.
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"Do you know what flouride does to your precious bodily fluids, young man?"

[ciapilot]

Our town is under attack from the anti-flouride movement. If you haven't experienced their attack strategies yet, read up, get ready, be prepared.

 

 

Secretary of HHS, Kathleen Sebelius, D, former Governor of Kansas:

 

Kathleen Sebelius was sworn in as the 21st Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on April 28, 2009.

 

Since taking office, Secretary Sebelius has been a leader on some of the Obama administration’s top priorities. As the country’s highest-ranking health official, she is guiding the implementation of the historic Affordable Care Act. She has also been at the forefront of efforts to build a 21st century health care system, from putting a new focus on prevention and wellness to promoting electronic medical records to expanding the primary care workforce. In 2010, Modern Healthcare named her America’s second most powerful person in health care.

 

Secretary Sebelius has also answered President Obama’s call to break down walls in government to serve the American people more effectively. She has worked with Secretary Vilsack to build a 21st century food safety system. With Attorney General Holder, she is leading a new effort to stamp out health care fraud. She has teamed up with Secretary Duncan to raise the quality of early childhood education programs.