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Friday, March 26, 2021

Fluoride and the brain

 

 

Op-ed: It is time to protect kids’ developing brains from fluoride

Mounting evidence suggests fluoride may be hampering brain development and reducing kids' IQ. The US needs to rethink this exposure for pregnant women and children.

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The debate on the fluoridation of drinking water—one of the most polarized, long-running, and high-decibel controversies in public health—has been reignited as new studies find that fluoride is toxic to the developing brain.

Last week, the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) released a systematic review of all published studies evaluating the potential neurotoxicity of fluoride; the benefits of fluoride with respect to reducing tooth decay were not addressed. A committee of the National Academy of Science, Medicine, and Engineering will review it this fall. This comprehensive report scrutinized hundreds of human and animal studies on the impact of fluoride on brain and cognitive function. Most, but not all, of the high-quality studies evaluated fluoride concentrations that were about twice the level added to drinking water or higher. However, when considering all the evidence, their conclusion was "fluoride is presumed to be a cognitive developmental hazard to humans."

The NTP's conclusion was strengthened by a synthesis of high-quality studies showing that children who were exposed to higher amounts of fluoride during early brain development scored about 3 to 7 points lower on their IQ tests.

Their conclusion is consequential; about 75 percent of Americans on community water systems have fluoride in their tap water. Water is the main source of fluoride for people who live in communities with water fluoridation.

When do we know enough to revise long-held beliefs? We are reminded of the discovery of neurotoxic effects of lead that led to the successful banning of lead in gasoline and paint. Despite early warnings of lead toxicity, regulatory actions to reduce childhood lead exposures were not taken until decades of research had elapsed and millions more children were poisoned.

We know that the developing brain is exquisitely sensitive to minute concentrations of lead and other toxic chemicals. Moreover, toxic chemicals' irreversible effects on children's rapidly growing brains emphasize the need for prevention.

Failing to act on accumulated evidence raises deep and unsettling questions.

Why are beliefs about the safety of fluoride so intransigent in the face of consistent evidence to the contrary?

Costs outweigh benefits 

Fluoride offers no benefits to the fetus and infant and – as shown in the video below – new evidence suggests that fluoride is toxic to the developing brain at levels routinely found in the general population.


 

The benefits of fluoride in the prevention of tooth decay are predominately topical, occurring only after teeth appear in the child's mouth. Fortunately, pregnant women can use fluoridated toothpaste and, if they want to do more to prevent cavities, they can limit their consumption of sugar, a leading cause of tooth decay.

The loss of a single IQ point for an individual child is imperceptible, but the societal cost of millions of children losing 5 IQ points, or more is enormous. A decrement of even one IQ point translates to a 2 percent reduction in lifetime economic productivity (roughly $20,000), not to mention the additional educational costs required for children with lower IQs.

Many health and dental organizations in North America recommend community water fluoridation. Given the weight of evidence that fluoride is toxic to the developing brain, it is time for health organizations and regulatory bodies to review their recommendations and regulations to ensure they protect pregnant women and their children.

We can act now by recommending that pregnant women and infants reduce their fluoride intake.

Specialized water filtration systems can be used to remove fluoride from tap water for pregnant women and infants fed formula. Pregnant women can also avoid black tea, which hyper-accumulates fluoride. The good news for all women is that there is little fluoride in breast milk. Bottled water typically contains lower amounts of fluoride than fluoridated tap water.

Some health advocates are going a step further. In 2016, a group of citizens petitioned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to stop adding fluoride to drinking water because it is toxic. The EPA rejected the petition. In response, the citizen's group took an unprecedented step and sued the EPA in federal court. EPA lawyers argued half-heartedly that the science was insufficient and said the Agency does not have the resources to regulate fluoride under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA).

In August, Judge Edward Chen of the Ninth Circuit deferred his ruling on whether fluoridation poses an unreasonable risk until the NTP released their report.

New evidence questions existing policies about the safety of fluoride for babies' developing brains. Given that safe alternatives are available and that there is no benefit of fluoride to babies' teeth before they erupt or appear, it is time to protect those who are most vulnerable.

Bruce Lanphear, MD, is a physician and professor at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada.

Christine Till, PhD, is an associate professor of Psychology at York University in Toronto, Canada.

Linda Birnbaum, PhD, is Scientist Emeritus and Former Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health.



 

Thursday, March 25, 2021

YOU Inc. /PYC

One of the Fastest-Growing 

Mental Health and Substance 

Abuse Centers is Expanding 

Nationwide Amid COVID-19 

Pandemic

Clearbrook Treatment Centers opens an Addiction Treatment and 

Mental Health Center in Baldwinville, Massachusetts


NEWS PROVIDED BY

www.clearbrookinc.com 

Mar 23, 2021, 09:00 ET


BALDWINVILLE, Mass., March 23, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- What was once a 

long-standing school for disadvantaged children in need of behavioral health 

services is now a renovated, modern facility offering substance abuse and 

mental health services to adults. The previous facility, known as Hospital 

Cottages for Children, helped orphans with behavioral health needs dating 

back to 1882. After 139 years, the original founder's legacy is still very much 

alive—to help those in need. Clearbrook Massachusetts offers dual diagnosis; 

treatment for both substance abuse and mental health disorders. The facility is 

located at 83 Hospital Road in Baldwinville, about an hour and 20 minutes from downtown Boston.

Clearbrook's owners purchased the 35,000 square foot facility which has unique features built to accommodate healthcare operations, including a detox unit, clinical building, and residential cottages. Each residential cottage has eight single rooms and is fully furnished and equipped with furniture, bedding and televisions. 

The new facility, named Clearbrook Massachusetts, is an ideal location surrounded by woods and lakes; a peaceful refuge and spacious setting for those looking to rehabilitate from alcohol and other addictive substances. In addition, Clearbrook Massachusetts offers recreational activities which include a rock-climbing wall, basketball court, full cafeteria and meal accommodations, and holistic treatments like yoga and meditation.  

As a nation already suffering from the Opioid epidemic claiming nearly 80,000 lives per year, COVID-19 has attributed to the rise in depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) and a survey conducted by Mental Health America (MHA), 42 percent of people reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm, which is higher than before the pandemic. NAMI reported 41 percent more calls and emails to their hotline from March 2020 to April 2020 compared to the same period in 2019. The demand for alcohol and drug treatment services is at an all time high.

"Clearbrook Massachusetts is close to hiring 125 employees. They are highly trained staff who share a passion and commitment of helping people live healthy, sober lives. We appreciate the Baldwinville community's support in welcoming our new facility and their understanding of how critical our life saving services are to those struggling with mental health disorders and addiction," says CEO Eric Oakes.  

Clearbrook Treatment Centers holds Joint Commissioned Accreditation, which recognizes leadership in the industry, providing quality drug addiction and mental health treatment services. Joint Commission Accreditation is an independent, not-for-profit organization that certifies U.S. health care programs.

To learn how Clearbrook Treatment Centers is changing the lives of addicted individuals, see the organization's media section or addiction blog. If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction or mental health issues, please call us today at (888) 230-3122.