WHAT
DO THEY ACTUALLY PUT IN THE WATER?
The
three Fluoride chemicals that could be added to Queensland water supplies for fluoridation
are Hydrofluorosilicic Acid, Sodium Silicofluoride or Sodium Fluoride.
Hydrofluorosilicic
Acid and Sodium Silicofluoride are collectively known as the Silicofluorides
and are the chemicals used most in other Australian states fluoridation
schemes. The two Silicofluorides
chemicals used, are waste products of Phosphate fertilizer manufacture.
They are industrial grade, not pharmaceutical grade products and can
contain small residues of toxic heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury or lead.
The
two Silicofluoride compounds used DO NOT EVEN OCCUR IN NATURE, yet fluoridation
promoters call fluoride "NATURAL”. No toxicology studies have ever been performed on the Silicofluoride used in
water fluoridation schemes. The
only toxicology studies ever done, have been done on Pharmaceutical grade
Sodium Fluoride as is used in toothpaste.
Currently
less than 5% of Queensland's population drinks fluoridated water. Sodium Fluoride is a waste product of
Aluminium smelting and is the fluoridation chemical used in Queensland
in Dalby, Mareeba, Moranbah and Townsville/ Thuringowah.
Freedom
of Information reveals that water supply of Bamaga is fluoridated with a
Silicofluoride and that Sodium Fluoride used in other Queensland areas is
imported from China.
It
would appear that most of the Queenslanders that are currently drinking
fluoridated water are drinking water fluoridated with imported Chinese industry
waste products, probably sourced as a waste product of the Chinese Aluminium
smelting industry.
Water
from rivers, creeks or dams does contain small amounts of natural
fluoride. Levels of fluoride in SE Qld
surface waters are usually only about 0.1 parts per million, or nine times less
the amount of the Fluoride that Queensland Government plans on adding to
Brisbane's water supply.
Fluoride
occurs naturally in water when water flows though or over rocks and abrades rocks
that contain
Fluorspar,
or Calcium Fluoride (Ca F2). Calcium fluoride is very insoluble. Water that contains natural Fluoride from
abraded Fluorspar containing rocks also contains Calcium which can offer some
protection from Fluoride. Fluoride
binds with Calcium readily and Calcium is given as a treatment for Fluoride
poisoning.
Calcium
Fluoride (the natural form of Fluoride) is not permitted to be added to any
Australian water supply.
Groundwater
as in bore water or well water can contain very high levels of "natural"
fluoride and in parts of China, India and the Rift Valley, natural Fluoride has
led to devastating health effects such as crippling Skeletal Fluorosis for
millions of people. Arsenic, Lead and
Mercury are also "natural". Natural
does not necessarily mean good or desirable.
The
Silicofluoride compounds used for water fluoridation are very acidic and
addition to water often entails addition of other chemicals such as soda ash to
neutralize the acidity to prevent corrosion of water reticulation
equipment. Appendix one of the 1999
NHMRC Review of water fluoridation was a questionaire for Councils which fluoridate and
included a request for any evidence for Fluoride incompatibilities, such as
enhanced corrosion or breakdown of gaskets or seals, in the water distribution
network.
The
Queensland Government has said they would pay the setting up costs of
fluoridation, but will not be paying for any recurrent and on going costs. Any Fluoride caused corrosion problems in
water treatment plants or water reticulation systems would be to the future
cost of Councils and ratepayers.
