Fluoride Linked to Premature Births, Low-Birth Weight, Anemia

Submitted by Deborah Mitchell on 2010-09-05
The fluoride in your drinking water and various commodities may contribute to premature births, lower birth weights, and anemia in pregnant women, according to a study published in Current Science. This report is the first evaluation of fluoride as an additional risk factor for low-birth-weight infants and anemia in pregnancy.
Fluoride
The additional of fluoride has been legislated into most water supplies in the United States, reportedly to help prevent tooth decay, but this has been the subject of debate for many years. According to the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, the practice of fluoridating tap water is not supported by valid science.

While tooth decay is increasing among children in the United States, it has declined in the United Kingdom by 11 to 15 percent, according to recent surveys. Only 10 percent of water is fluoridated in the United Kingdom, and children’s toothpaste is low-fluoride. Fluoride toothpaste in the United States contains twice the dosage. In countries such as Sweden, Finland, and Holland, tooth decay rates have declined by 72to 92 percent over the past two decades, and their water is not fluoridated.