Fluorides are cumulative toxins. To determine a safe level, the total intake from all sources must be considered.
The most obvious disease linked to chronic fluoride poisoning is hypothyroidism. Because of its effect on the pituitary, blood levels may not appear abnormal. Some of the symptoms include obesity, early puberty, lethargy, chronic fatigue, depression and heart disease. Symptoms of chronic end-stage poisoning may include sleep disturbance, mitral valve prolapse, cognitive difficulties, muscle pain/stiffness and spinal stenosis.
Non-water sources include food contaminated with herbicides, pesticides, phosphate fertilizers, vehicle emissions, industrial wastes and Scotchgard.
Of grave concern is the use of fluoride compounds in medication that assist the drug in crossing the blood brain barrier so less of the medication is required. Many people take medications such as Paxil, Prozac, Cipro, Diflucan, Advair and Lipitor. Many surgical anesthetics also contain fluoride. Coupled with water and environmental exposure, these medications can abruptly put a person into fluoride toxicity and wondering why they feel worse than before treatment.
Start asking your doctor to identify fluoride-containing medications while providing a suitable substitute. If your water is fluoridated, ask the municipality to check out the most current scientific evidence on www.fluoride alert.org. If they refuse, ask them to notify all residents of the possible negative health concerns and ways they can reduce exposure.
The Tribune encourages letters to the editor on current issues. Please limit letters to 250 words or less.
We reserve the right to edit all letters and require that all letters include the name, address and phone number of the writer for verification purposes.
Letter writers will be limited to no more than one letter a month. Please do not send poetry, or items taken from other publication or from the Internet.
Send letters to the editor to letters@lacrossetribune.com.

