Where Fluoride Comes From

All fluoride chemicals used in the U.S. for water fluoridation, sodium
fluoride, sodium fluorosilicate, and fluorosilicic acid, are byproducts of the
phosphate fertilizer industry, according to the US Center for Disease
Control's, National Fluoridation Engineer, Thomas G. Reeves.(A)

Phosphate fertilizer manufacturing produces two byproducts: (1) a solid,
calcium sulfate (sheetrock, CaSo4); and (2) the gases, hydrofluoric acid (HF)
and silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4), reports Reeves.

Apatite rock, a calcium mineral found in central Florida, is ground up and
treated with sulfuric acid, producing phosphoric acid and the two byproducts,
calcium sulfate and the two gas emissions. These gases are captured by product
recovery units (scrubbers) and condensed into 23% fluorosilicic acid, reports
Reeves.

According to the National Sanitation Foundation, this fluorosilicic acid
commonly contains lead and arsenic (B). Earth Island Journal reports, small
traces of cadmium, mercury, sulfates, iron , phosphorous and radionuclides may
contaminate the fluorosilicic acid, also. (C)

Sodium fluoride and sodium fluorosilicate are made from this acid, writes
Reeves who claims the fluoride chemicals dissociate virtually 100% into their
various components (ions) and are very stable, safe, and non-toxic.

Unfortunately for us, there are no data to support Reeves claim. In fact, the
National Toxicology Program (NTP) has just now started to study water
fluoridation chemicals(D). The NTP indicates that the "assumed complete
dissociation to free fluoride under normal conditions of use [is] not supported
by experimental evidence."

In fact, laboratory research in Germany by Westendorf (E) contradicts the
assumption of "complete dissociation"

Since the elements that make up silicofluorides don’t fully come apart in
water, Masters and Coplan theorize one or more of these partially dissolved
compounds might be responsible for the higher blood lead levels found in
children who live in silicofluoridated communites (F) when compared to sodium
or non-fluoridated communities.

"Pharmaceutical grade fluoride compounds are not appropriate for water
fluoridation; they are used in the formulation of prescription drugs," reports
Reeves. What he's really saying is that pharmaceutical grade fluoride compounds
are too expenseive to use for water fluoridation.

Reeves writes, "Finally, it is sometimes alleged that the fluoride from natural
sources, like calcium fluoride, is better than fluorides added "artificially",
such as from the fluoride chemicals presently used.There is no difference,"
says Reeves.

However, Fluoride toothpaste giant Colgate's advice to professionals is that
calcium fluoride is poorly absorbed(7) unlike free fluoride ions which are
quickly absorbed. In fact, calcium is the antidote for fluoride poisoning
because the positively charged calcium ion attaches to the negatively charged
fluorine ion and safely carries fluoride out of the body.

The real question is why is a water fluoridation engineer giving health advice
about fluoride and why are legislative bodies heeding it?



References:
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/11749/105538

Fluoride Supplements - Don't Use Them
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/11749/90618

McFluoride
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/11749/98946

Sally Stride
Fluoride Editor, Suite 101
http://www.suite101.com/welcome.cfm/fluoridation