Public water boards need to take every precautionary method possible, without taking chances, to guarantee a continued source of clean water to each community. Clean, safe water is a basic human right! Since our bodies are 98% water, and since the human body can live longer without food than without water, water is a basic human right. Municipalities need to look at the identifying word: clean'.
Synonyms for clean are: Uncontaminated; unpolluted; unadulterated; pure.
When municipalities start adding unnecessary chemicals, like those used for reasons other than maintaining purity, when those municipalities add contaminates, the water may be said to be adulterated: impure, tainted, unclean.
Sodium fluoride is a by-product of the aluminum industry and also a by-product of fertilizer plants. It is also a rat-poison. The handling of this chemical is advised to be done by men outfitted in suits that resemble space walkers. Internet site www.jtbaker.com/msda/englishhtml/s3722.htm will take one to the Material Safety Data Sheet prepared by Environmental Health & Safety. This sheet documents its dangers.
While calcium fluoride is found naturally in some places, sodium fluoride is not. We need to beware the term fluoride', without the description of sodium or calcium; just as much as we need to beware of the word water, without the description, clean water'. And who defines clean'?
Reports of sodium fluoride poisoning due to pump failures of municipalities, causing serious health problems to masses of residents, young and old alike, but especially infants and children, may be found at www.flouride-journal.com/97-30-2/302-89.htm
Not to be overlooked is the fact that sodium flouride is a corrosive. This corrosive factor obviously contributes to pump and pipe failure much earlier than normal wear and tear. Natrually, this raises the element of danger to all, not just workers in the water department but to all users in the community. Are these dangers worth the risk, especially when controlled topical treatments are readily available to those who choose? Try, just try, to easliy buy a toothpaste WITHOUT sodium flouride.
Since the amount of water consumed by any one person varies by the individual, there is no way to control the amount ingested when it is in a glass of water. Adding something to a water supply is a totally unscientific way of controlling 'dose administration' and that is just what it is: Mass medication, without control.
Putting this in drinking water, renders water unclean', and violates peoples' free choice of whether to use the chemical, or not. Letting water stand, will not allow this chemical to dissipate, as with chlorination.
With sodium fluoride in toothpaste, in vitamins, in nursery water (for babes with no teeth), the chances of exceeding safe limits is not just immeasurable, it is unconscionable.
Input from municipalities which have experienced community heath problems from malfunctioning pumps should be on the advisory committee to any public water project.