Fluoridation and Tea Do Not Mix, Studies Continue to Show

Press release from: New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc
(openPR) - Fluoride added to tap water (fluoridation) puts tea
drinkers at risk of damaged bones, discolored teeth and soft tissue
harm, studies show.

Tea has naturally high fluoride levels. Excess fluoride can weaken
bones and discolor children's un-erupted teeth. When fluoridated water
is used to make tea, fluoride levels consumed can be health damaging.

Four cups, of 20 teas sampled, delivered 0.8 to 1.8 mg of fluoride,
when non-fluoridated water was used, reports Cao et al. in Food
Chemistry.

"Among populations habitually consuming black tea, water fluoridation
is not only unnecessary but also possibly harmful…The target organs of
chronic fluoride intoxication are not only the teeth and skeleton, but
also the liver, kidney, nervous and reproductive systems," they write.

A March 2008 Food and Chemical Toxicology study found up to 4.5, 1.8,
and 0.5 mg/L fluoride in black, green and white teas, respectively,
when brewed for 5 minutes (61 teas sampled).

Brewed teas could contain up to 6 mg/L fluoride depending on the
amount of dry tea used, the water fluoride concentration and the
brewing time, according to the American Dental Association (ADA).

According to 1997 ADA data, 3 and 4 milligrams daily is adequate for
women and men, respectively, to prevent fluoride's adverse effects.
It's much lower for children. In 2006, the National Research Council
reported the basis for those levels should be reduced.

Case Reports by Cao and Yi in the Journal of Fluorine Chemistry
(February 2008) "Tea and fluorosis:"

--A 57-year-old Englishman's misdiagnosed Paget's disease (weakened
bones) with osteoarthritis was finally correctly diagnosed as skeletal
fluorosis caused by his long-term heavy tea-drinking habit.

--A Pakistani woman's dental fluorosis resulted solely from tea which
she consumed from age two.

--A 36-year-old Chinese woman's ten-years of joint pain disappeared
when she stopped drinking tea.

--French doctors identified 5 patients who developed bone softening
(osteomalacia) from drinking tea.

-- An American woman's fluoride-caused debilitating joint pains
disappeared when her two-gallon-a-day iced-tea habit stopped.

"By 2020, one in two Americans over age 50 will be at risk for
fractures from osteoporosis or low bone mass," according to the
Surgeon General.

"It's clear that fluoridation is increasing Americans' bone damage;
but US physicians are not trained to diagnosis fluoride-caused
disease. Presidential and other candidates must pledge to stop water
fluoridation if they truly care about individuals and not
fluoridation-supporting special interest groups such as the American
Dental Association," says attorney Paul Beeber, President, New York
State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. "Meanwhile the Tea
industry needs to label the fluoride content of their products."

Fluoride is in many foods as determined by the USDA
www.ars.usda.gov/Services/docs.htm?docid=6312

According to American Dental Association, the adequate intake of
fluoride to avoid moderate fluorosis (yellow teeth) is:

-- 0.01 mg/day for 0 to 6-month-olds
-- 0.5 mg/day for 7 through 12 months
-- 0.7 mg/day for 1 to 3-year-olds
-- 1.0 mg/day for 4 to 8-year-olds

Mild fluorosis is white spots, lines or blotches to the teeth and can
occur at levels lower than the above.

The CDC reports that fluorosis afflicts up to 48% of US school
children - 4% of it severe.

Both the ADA and CDC advise that infant formula should not be mixed
with fluoridated water.

New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation

www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

www.FluorideAction.Net

Past News Releases: tinyurl.com/NewsReleases

References:

Food Chemistry, "Safety evaluation on fluoride content in black tea,"
by Cao et al. (November 2004)

Food Chemical Toxicology, "Assessment of fluoride concentration and
daily intake by human from tea and herbal infusions," by Malinowska et
al. (March 2008)

Journal of Fluorine Chemistry, "Tea and fluorosis," by Juan Yi and Jin
Cao (February 2008

The New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation organized to
successfully stop a fluoridation mandate in New York State in the late
1970's. NYSCOF continues to educate anyone who asks about the hazards
of fluoride and fluoridation.

New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc
PO Box 263
Old Bethpage, NY 11803
www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof