Over 100 people packed the Solent University Conference Centre on 11th September to hea r Professor Paul Connett present the scientific case against fluoridation. Professor Connett is Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at St Lawrence University, New York State and Executive Direc- tor of the Fluoride Action Network. Together with Professors Beck and Micklem he has just published a book examining the scientific evidence on water fluoridation (see page 3 for more infor- mation). His wide ranging talk examined both the evidence — or rather lack of evidence — on the effective- ness of water fluoridation and the evidence on health risks. Drawing on the material in the book he set out the history and beginnings of water fluorida- tion before demonstrating that modern studies have found little difference in dental decay between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. In an entertaining and hugely detailed analysis of the evidence, he argued that ―this alone should be enough to make any public health policy maker stop w ater fluoridationimmediately‖. He then set out t he evidence of harm and presented in some de tail the wealth of scient ific studies that raise questions about the safety of fluoridation and the dangers of excess fluoride ingestion. Pointing out the alarming increase in dental fluorosis in the USA, he particularly highlighted the effect of fluoride on the endocrine system, bones, th yroid and pineal glands. Concerns that have been ex pressed in other scientific reviews of the evidence. His talk sparked many questions from the audience and a lively discussion. Professor Connett also pre- sented the Fluoride Action Network Scientist of the Year Award to Dr Jennifer Luke, a UK dentist and researcher, for her pioneering work on the impact of fluoride on the pineal gland. A film of Professor Connett‘s talk is now available on YouTube and the Hampshire Against Fluoridation blog spot. Leading international scientist present s the case against water fluoridation Inside this issue: Case for water fluoridation challenged by EU Scientific Committee ♦ New book published on the case against water fluoridation ♦ Campaign against SHA .www.hampshireagainstfluoridation.org October 2010 Professor Connett promotes the Fluoride Action Net- work ‘Professionals DVD’ during his talk
Scientific Committee on Health Risks Water fluoridation has been described as ‗a crude and rather ineffective form of systemic fluoride
treatment to prevent dental caries without a detectable threshold for dental and bone damage ‘.
This is the opinion of the EU Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) con-
tained in a recent report on the scientific evidence on water fluoridation. Their report also concludesthat ‗There is no obvious advantage in favour of water fluoridation compared to topical application
which is the most effective method for prevention of tooth decay ’.
These and other aspects of water fluoridation‘s safety were discussed at a special hearing in Brussels
on 17th September. Hampshire Against Fluoridation‘s chairman, Stephen Peckham, was one of a number
of international scientists, health and environmental campaigners who presented detailed evidence of
the adverse effects of adding fluoride to drinking water.
The Committee‘s findings directly challenge the SHA‘s claim that fluoridation is ―safe and effective.‖
While the SHA continues to promote 1ppm as an ‗optimum level‘ of fluoride in water, the Scientific
Committee concluded that in areas where water contains fluoride at concentrations over 0.8ppm, chil-
dren under 12 years will exceed the upper limits for fluoride ingestion. Stephen Peckham said ―As
Hampshire Against Fluoridation has always argued, the SHA have not properly considered the evidence .
This timely scientific review demonstrates that water fluoridation will expose children to excess levels
of fluoride. It is shocking that the SHA are ignoring this evidence.‖
Over-exposure to fluoride in the UK and
Eire was a key concern. Despite the SHA
and PCT brushing-off such concerns, the
EU Scientific Committee took very seri-ously the problem of excess ingestion, argu-
ing that there is an urgent need for further
research. They were particularly worried
about bone cancer in young boys – a concern
dismissed by the SHA in their consultation
document. At the hearing, Professor
Vyvyan Howard, a leading international re-
searcher in molecular bioscience at the Uni-
versity of Ulster, argued that if regulatory
approval for fluoridation chemicals was be-ing sought today based on the data presented to the hearing by SCHER, the chances of obtaining it
were extremely remote.
US based Ellen and Paul Connett from the Fluoride Action Network and Dr Ziegelbecker from Austria
joined representatives from the National Pure Water Association, HAF, VOICE of Concern for the
Irish Environment, Dr Jennifer Luke and Professor Vyvyan Howard. Also in attendance were a leading
supplier of fluoride toothpastes in Europe and the Spanish company producing and supplying fluorosili-
cates to Ireland. The only UK pro-fluoridation attendees were the chairman of the British Fluoridation
Society and a representative of UK dental associations. No Department of Health or NHS representa-
tive attended despite their strong support for water fluoridation!
You can view a copy of the Scientific Committee‘s Preliminary Opinion on water fluoridation here:
For the past 60 years, millions of people have unwittingly participated in a public health experiment us-
ing water fluoridation to reduce dental disease. But in a recently published book, this experiment is de-
clared a failure. The Case Against Fluoride: how hazardous waste ended up in our drinking water and
the bad science and powerful politics that keep it there , Professors Connett, Beck and Micklem sum-
marise the historical, political, ethical, toxicological, and epidemiological scientific data behind waterfluoridation. The book concludes that, if proposed today, fluoridation of drinking water to prevent
tooth decay would stand virtually no chance of being adopted, given the current status of scientific
knowledge.
The Case Against Fluoride is an incisive, research-driven indictment of the government-sponsored
practice of adding toxic chemicals to public drinking supplies. The authors examine mounting evidence
that fluoridated water is unsafe to drink, wreaking havoc on the human body – affecting the brain, en-
docrine system, bones and kidneys.
The book re-examines the justifications for fluoride and finds a shocking lack of evidence that fluori-
dated water has any proven dental or health benefits. After concluding that the risks far outweighthe benefits, the authors turn their attention to why this practice continues. Their investigation leads
them – not surprisingly – to powerful corporate interests benefiting from these programs and profes-
sional organisations unwilling to change past endorsements. The book is very readable and packed with
detailed information about the evidence on water fluoridation and the politics of fluoridation policy.
While mainly focused on the USA, there are references to Southampton and the current fight locally
to keep fluoride out of our water.
The authors:Dr Paul Connett is the Director of the Fluoride Ac-
tion Network. He holds a BS (Honours) degree from
the University of Cambridge and a PhD in chemistry
from Dartmouth College and is an Emeritus Profes-
sor of Chemistry at St Lawrence University, Canton,
NY, where his areas of expertise were environ-
mental chemistry and toxicology.
Dr James S Beck is a Professor Emeritus of Medi-
cal Biophysics at the University of Calgary and holds
doctorates in medicine from Washington University
School of Medicine and biophysics from the Univer-sity of California, Berkeley.
Dr H Spedding Micklem is a Professor Emeritus in
the School of Biological Sciences at the University
of Edinburgh. He holds a DPhil from the University
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