July 15, 1997

The National Federation of Federal Employees, (NFFE), Union of Government scientists of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington DC, voted unanimously to co-sponsor a California Initiative to ban fluoridation. Their statement on 2 July, 1997 reads:

"Our members review of the body of evidence over the last eleven years, including animal and human epidemiology studies, indicate a causal link between fluoride/fluoridation and cancer, genetic damage, neurological impairment and bone pathology."

The Union membership are the toxicologists, chemists, physical scientists, statisticians, biologists, engineers, attorneys and other professionals at Environmental Protection Agency headquarters in Washington DC. The members are responsible for evaluating technical and scientific knowledge in areas that lie at the core of all EPA's scientific and technical determinations, with specific responsibilities under the US Safe Drinking Water Act.

According to NFFE; "... the health and welfare of the public is not served by the addition of this substance (fluoride) to the public water supply... for which there is virtually no evidence of significant benefits... and substantial evidence of adverse effects."

For more than a decade, the professionals directly responsible for assessing the scientific information relating to fluoride have protested EPA management conclusions and "independent" contractor reviews, which the Union members allege were performed by "hired guns". After numerous attempts to correct EPA management conclusions that were not supported by available facts, the Union attempted to join a lawsuit against their own employer in 1986, citing "fraudulent alterations of data and negligent omission of fact to arrive at predetermined Agency political positions regarding fluoride."

Dr. Wm. L. Marcus, Senior Science Adviser, Standards and Compliance Division in EPA's Office of Drinking Water was fired for a 1990 whistle-blowing memo calling for a review of the cover-up of the National Toxicological Program study that shows fluoride is a "probable human carcinogen". That finding alone would prohibit the addition of fluoride to the public water supply. Although Dr. Marcus won his whistle-blower lawsuit, with punitive damages, and returned to work at the EPA, the classifications were never reviewed.

Contact: Ellie Rudolph, Dir.
PA Chapter, Health Alliance International
Tel/Fax 412-828-5096

J. William Hirzy, Ph.D.
EPA (NFFE)
Tel. 202-260-2383
Fax 202-401-3139

NOTES FOR EDITORS:

PENNSYLVANIA has rejected a "Mandatory Fluoridation Bill" 1989-1993 and again in the period July 18, 1996 to November 30, 1996. The threat of another bill has been announced in Harrisburg this month.

Fluoride is a cumulative, protoplasmic poison. We excrete about 50% of the fluoride we ingest. The rest is stored, mainly in the bones and other tissues of the body. Fluoride is ubiquitous in the environment - we ingest it from food, beverages, toothpaste, mouth rinses, drops, tablets, medicines, pesticides, herbicides and from the air we breathe. Evidence shows that the population is ingesting much more fluoride than the "safe levels" recommended by the Department of Health.

The US Food and Drugs Administration issued a directive in April 1997 that fluoride toothpaste and other fluoride products must carry warnings; for example, on toothpaste tubes and packaging: "If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately."

** This warning is currently being down-played by members of the American Dental Association (who receive massive sums in "endorsements" of fluoride products) and by some local poison control centers in the United States.

In 1994, the World Health Organization warned: "Dental and public health administrators should be aware of the total fluoride exposure in the population before introducing any additional fluoride program for caries prevention."

** This warning is being completely ignored! Moreover, attempts to again compel Pennsylvania to Mass Medicate our Commonwealth's drinking water must be outlawed for the protection of the Public Health.

Last modified: 7 September 2001

http://www.actionpa.org/fluoride/nffe.html