Text: Sent: Sunday, March 28, 2004 4:10 AM Subject: AFIN BULLETIN # 101: Fluoride [re]classified as a poison. AUSTRALIAN FLUORIDATION INFORMATION NETWORK AFIN BULLETIN # 101: Fluoride [re]classified as a poison. March 27, 2004. Dear All, The wheel has turned almost full circle: new legislation [in NSW at least] has [re]classified fluoride as a poison. As a result, Ballina Shire Council is recommending scrapping its practice of providing over-the-counter fluoride tablets and fluoride drops. [See news item below or www.fluoridealert.org/news/1842.html ]. Years ago, non-prescription Sodium Fluoride tablets were supplied in Australia with 'S5 Schedule under the poisons act' printed on the label - as was fluoride toothpaste. In 1973, 2-year-old Jason Burton of Queensland died of fluoride poisoning from ingesting at the one time no more than 6 fluoride tablets. [FLUORIDE IN AUSTRALIA - A case to answer by Wendy Varney, ISBN 0 86806 261 8]. The death was never reported in any medical or dental journal throughout the world. [FLUORIDATION - Poison on Tap by Glen S. R. Walker, ISBN 0 9593571 0 6]. When the National Health & Medical Research Council [conveniently?] decided that fluoride toothpaste was a toiletry the 'S5 Schedule' wording was removed. In 1997, the US Food and Drug Administration required toothpaste to carry the warning: "Use only a pea-sized amount and supervise child's brushing and rinsing [to minimize swallowing]. The warning instructed parents to keep toothpaste "out of the reach of children under 6 years of age," adding the precautionary message "if the child swallows more than a pea-sized amount, contact a Poison Control Center immediately". [ www.fannz.org.nz ]. In a recent letter, US dentist Dr Debra Hopkins wrote: "Fluoride for ingestion is a prescription medication that should be dispensed by licensed medical/dental professionals ..." and "... A warning on toothpaste tubes states: Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. In case of accidental ingestion, seek professional assistance or contact a Poison Control Center immediately." [ www.fluoridealert.org/news/1842.html ]. In the 1993 US publication of Fluoride the AGING FACTOR [ISBN 0-913571-03-2] by Dr John Yiamouyiannis, BS, PhD [Biochemistry] the author wrote: "Fluoride mouth-rinse programs are currently being administered to children by teachers. Since these teachers are not licensed to practice medicine, dentistry, or pharmacy, fluoride mouth-rinse programs are illegal. To administer a drug, teachers are required to take 3- to 4-gram packets of sodium fluoride [enough to kill 3 to 6 children] and dilute them for use by the children. This is in violation of pharmacy laws which prohibit the compounding or dispensing of drugs without a license. Fluoride is classified both as a drug and as a poison. Furthermore, in the administration of this program to students, the teacher, as well as the school board, are guilty of practicing medicine without a license. Additionally, since most school rinse programs do not make the parent aware of the warning on the fluoride rinse packets, "AMOUNT IS POISONOUS IF SWALLOWED, KEEP AWAY FROM CHILDREN." and "WARNING: DO NOT SWALLOW", they are in violation of laws requiring the terminal distributor to make the parents aware of the danger involved." As a former Biochemical Editor of Chemical Abstracts Service [the world's largest chemical information centre] no doubt Dr Yiamouyiannis was certain of his facts. Could it be possible that Australian Councils [and pharmacists] that provide fluoride tablets and fluoride drops are in breech of duty of care regulations by not warning the parents [the terminal distributors] of the dangers of these seemingly-harmless products? Having said that, perhaps it would be appropriate to email the Ballina Shire Council General Manager [Mr Stuart McPherson] at council@balshire.org.au and ask him to extend congratulations to councillors for having made such a wise recommendation. This would also be an opportunity to dispense some relevant information about the adverse effects of fluoridation just in case Ballina's councillors are persuaded that fluoridation is a safe alternative. Ailsa Boyden Ballina council rejects fluoride After almost 40 years of providing fluoride to the shire's residents northern NSW's Ballina council is recommending that it scrap the service. Since 1965 the council has offered fluoride in one form or another. But new legislation now classifies fluoride as a poison. Ballina's manager of water and sewerage, Phil Warner, says it is time stop the practice because the council is no longer authorised to hand out fluoride. "The council has been providing fluoride to the community over the counter for many years now, but in tablet form and also in drop form," Mr Warner said. "Basically fluoride is now considered a poisonous substance." .......................................................................................................................... http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1073229.htm>http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1073229.htm

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