TL;DR – The claims are so outrageous that no one will believe them… right?
There was a “protest” against the water price hike at Hong Lim Park on 11th March. We get it. Water prices going up means heavier financial burden. It’s understandable if some people are buay song. It’s understandable that some people want to have an avenue to air their unhappiness. So it’s understandable why some people would turn up at that “protest”.
But, our water is dangerous?
But for the life of us, we can’t understand why that “protest” featured one particular speaker. Ms Irene Mortensen spoke at the “protest”, but she didn’t speak about the water price hike. Instead, in her 7-8 minute speech, she spoke about how dangerous the water in Singapore is. Yes, that’s right. According to Ms Mortensen, Singaporeans are getting poisoned from drinking water from the tap.
How so?
Ms Mortensen claimed that Singaporeans are being poisoned by the fluoride in Singapore’s water supply. She asserted that the fluoride in Singapore’s water supply causes brain damage. She even went as far as to suggest that fluoride in Singapore’s water supply caused suicides of children in Singapore.
Here’s a condensed version of her speech,
It’s true that Singapore’s water supply contains fluoride. Singapore started putting fluoride into our water supply since 1954. We did it because we wanted to reduce tooth decay.
The fluoridation level in Singapore’s water supply is currently at 0.6mg per litre of water. That is well within the level of 1.5mg per litre prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Fluoridation at low levels have minimal risks
When fluoridation is lower than the WHO prescribed levels, the risks are minimal. In fact, there is no evidence in any scientific literature that suggests that fluorine causes brain damage like what Ms Mortensen claimed. When there are any side effects, the symptoms are limited to nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea.
But that only happens in rare cases where improper implementation of water fluoridation resulted in overfluoridation. Three such cases were reported in the U.S. between 1991 and 1998, caused by fluoride concentrations as high as 220 mg/L; in the 1992 Alaska outbreak, 262 people became ill and one person died. Those levels are way higher than the fluoridation levels in Singapore’s water supply.
And in case we are worried that fluoridation harms the environment, it doesn’t. The effect of water fluoridation on the natural environment has been investigated, and no adverse effects have been established. Issues studied have included fluoride concentrations in groundwater and downstream rivers; lawns, gardens, and plants; consumption of plants grown in fluoridated water; air emissions; and equipment noise.
Don’t be taken in by those outrageous claims
So Ms Mortensen’s claims are completely baseless. Thankfully, her claims are so outrageous that (hopefully) only few, if any, people would believe her. Right?
By the way, if you’re curious to find out a little more about Ms Irene Mortensen, we came across a very interesting link with an eyebrow-raising clip in there somewhere.
Meanwhile, I’m feeling thankful for our free flow of fresh, clean water, and water that we can drink straight from the taps.
Dear Jake,
Thank you for taking your time to write about my speech and defending fluoride. I hope you and your loved ones will never be affected by this toxic chemical. A man of power like yourself must have a very expensive water filtration system at home, very seldom dine outside, and eat mostly non-fluoridated home cooked food, thus you can write so well. I wish many babies, children, patients of diabetic, cancer and stroke are as unaffected as you are. God blesses you and your family with peace and bliss. To end fluoridation is a very difficult uphill task, but to keep it in place, is easy, just do nothing. We’ll see how Singapore as a country turns out with another 30 years of water fluoridation. I’m sure you are more qualified than doctors and professors from Harvard, Cambridge and Gothenburg Universities on the topic of ingested fluoride and human health effects. I wish you all the best and not be affected by Fukushima tainted food products. If cancer ever manifests itself, Prince Charles of Wales endorsed the Gerson Therapy.
TOXICITY OF WATER FLUORIDATION
Dr. Phyllis Mullenix, PhD, worked at the Harvard Medical School,
discusses the toxicity of water fluoridation at IAOMT 2009 Las Vegas.
IAOMT – International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eou_UMhHlm4
NOBEL LAUREATE OPPOSES WATER FLUORIDATION
Swedish Professor Emeritus Dr. Arvid Carlsson, Nobel Prize winner in 2000 for Medicine/Physiology, opposes water fluoridation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cMYYtoh1q0
“It is interesting to note that Dr. Carlsson opposed fluoridation of water as it is a violation of modern pharmacological principles, and he succeeded in his campaign along with hundreds of other scientists. It is also important to note that the incidence of dental caries was the same in Sweden as compared to fluoridated countries such as the USA. As British Columbia in Canada was considering fluoridation of water, Carlsson said, ‘I would advise against fluoridation. He reiterated that individual prophylaxis (treatment) is preferable on principle grounds and that it is equally effective’.”
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2824994/
WATER FLUORIDATION & ARTHRITIS CONNECTION
Dr. David Kennedy, DDS & Dr. Paul Connett, PhD talked about how water fluoridation affects bones and joints leading to arthritis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ax1V-mfPlMw
“Dr. David C. Kennedy has practiced dentistry for more than 30 years. He is the Past President
of the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, which was formed to review,
support, and disseminate research on the suitability of materials and methodologies used in
the dental practice. Dr. Kennedy is currently the Information Officer on fluoride for the
International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology.”
https://www.fda.gov/downloads/AdvisoryCommittees/CommitteesMeetingMaterials/MedicalDevices/MedicalDevicesAdvisoryCommittee/DentalProductsPanel/UCM236372.pdf
Dr. Paul Connett “is a graduate of Cambridge University. He holds a Ph.D. in chemistry from Dartmouth College. After teaching chemistry and toxicology for 23 years at St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY, he retired from his full professorship. He is currently also the director of the American Environmental Health Studies Project (AEHSP).[10][11]”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Connett
Professor Paul Connett’s 2016 Presentation “The Truth About Fluoride” in New Zealand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2VFLW6IZxg
FLUORIDE SENSITIVITY
Late Dr. Albert Burgstahler discovered his fluoride sensitivity and talked about fluoride’s effects on health.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCx4SaqciAs&t=13s
Are you sensitive to fluoride? Have you been exposed to it in toothpastes, water, drinks and foods?
Water fluoridation renders most drinks and foods in restaurants, schools and everywhere to contain unknown amount of fluoride.
Dr. Burgstahler said 4-5 mg of fluoride intake daily will depress thyroid function.
Late Dr. Albert W. Burgstahler was Emeritus Professor of Chemistry at the University of Kansas.
http://www.velikovsky.info/Albert_W._Burgstahler
#endfluoridation Singapore
Hmm. How come your article never mention that the average fluoride excretion in adult is 0.5? That means that no matter how small is the concentration of fluoride we put into the water, over time, years, or body will accumulate enough fluoride for the harmful effects to emerge. Effects such as, osteoporosis, various forms of cancers, kidney diseases, heart conditions, gastrointestinal diseases. All of which, we are seeing as common diseases in Singapore.
We want to reduce risks of stroke and high blood pressure. Fluoridation of our waters will not lower stroke and high blood pressure. Let us do the cost effective way and stop fluoridation in our waters.
http://fluoridealert.org/studies/cardio01/