The Association of Silicofluoride Treated Water And The Incidence of Childhood lead Poisoning

Cases In FloridaBy

Dr. Bruce R. Pachter, Eric Mills, Allison Simler,Tal Raizer, Michelle Bitman, and Wesley Raider

The North Broward Preparatory School, Coconut Creek, The North Broward Preparatory School, Coconut Creek, Florida and Dept. Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Florida and Dept. Rehabilitation Medicine, New York University Medical Center, New York, NYMedical Center, New York, NY

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers lead poisoning the foremost environmental health threat to children in the U.S.

Almost 4.4% of all pre-schoolers - have enough lead in their blood to reduce intelligence and attention span, cause learning disabilities, and damage permanently a child's brain and nervous system.

National surveys estimate that more than 3 million children 6 years of age and younger have lead poisoning. This number represents almost one out of every six children under the age of 7.

Common Items Which Contain Lead1. Lead based paint manufactured prior to 19782. Leaded gasoline3. Exposure to lead in dust during home renovations4. Exposure to lead in soil5. Jewelry6. Hair dyes7. Lead-glazed pottery8. Certain cosmetics9. Folk Remedies10. Certain hobbies – stained glass, target shooting

Diagnosis of Lead PoisoningThe only way to diagnose lead poisoning is by having a blood test. A level of 10 micrograms per deciliter (mcg/dL) or greater is considered unsafe.

In addition to direct sources of lead, the two key risk factors linked to elevated blood lead levels in children are;

1. Living in older housing, and2. Living in a low income household

Recent epidemiological studies have shown that there may be an Association between community water fluoridated with silicofluorides (SiF’s) and elevated blood lead levels in children.

Presently, over 160 million people are drinking waterfluoridated with SiF’s rather than sodium fluoride.

Over 91% of US fluoridated water is treated with eitherfluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6) or sodium fluorosilicate (Na2SiF6) (SiF’s).

Less than 10% is treated with simple sodiumfluoride.

Silicofluorides & Higher Blood Lead: Statement from Dr. Roger MastersSilicofluorides and Higher Blood Lead

At present, U.S. public water systems serving over 140 million people are fluoridated with 200,000 tons of commercial grade hydrofluosilicic acid (H2SiF6) and sodium silicofluoride (Na2SiF6), together called "silicofluorides" (or "SiFs"). Data from numerous studies show that, taking economic, social and racial factors into account, where silicofluorides are used, children absorb more lead from the environment, and there are higher rates of diseases and behavioral problems associated with lead poisoning (including hyperactivity, substance abuse, and violent crime).

**Hydrofluorosilicic acid is used to add fluoride to drinking water in Florida.

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF FLUORINE

1. Gastrointestinal Disorders2. Joint Pain3. Headaches4. Muscular Weakness5. Fatigue6. Skeletal Fluorosis7. Thyroid Function Suppression8. Prenatal Deaths9. Birth Defects10. Brain Damage11. Immune System Suppression12. Disrupts the synthesis of collagen and leads to

the breakdown of collagen in bone, tendon, muscle, skin, cartilage, lungs, kidney and trachea

ADVERSE EFFECTS OF FLUORINE

1. Gastrointestinal Disorders2. Joint Pain3. Headaches4. Muscular Weakness5. Fatigue6. Skeletal Fluorosis7. Thyroid Function Suppression8. Prenatal Deaths9. Birth Defects10. Brain Damage11. Immune System Suppression

The devastating, toxic effects of fluoride are well documented by mainstream organizations.

(1) The Journal of the American Medical Association (1990-1992) has reported a greater incidence of hip fractures in fluoridated areas in the U.S. and Britain.

(2) TheNew England Journal of Medicine (1990) reported that fluoride treatment of osteoporosis patients resulted in higher hip fracture rates.

(3) The governmental National Institute of Environmental and Health Sciences (1990) has shown that fluoride causes cancer. Former promoters of fluoridation have since found that fluoridation does not reduce tooth decay (1987-1988).

(4) Scientist at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (1989-1993) have come out against fluoridation because they have confirmed that it does not reduce tooth decay and that there is clear evidence that fluoride causes cancer.

Jean Marie Malecki, M.D.DirectorPalm Beach County Health Department

“Fluoridation Benefits Everyone and Harms No One.”

Objective of Study

We tested the hypothesis that exposure to Silicofluoride- treated community water is a co-risk factor in the development of childhood lead poisoning.

STUDY PROTOCOL

1. We determined from www.scorecard.org, those Florida counties that were high risk for lead hazards. We studied the ten top high risk counties. A high risk county was defined as one in which a child age 6 or under is living in a housing unit built before 1950 and living in poverty.

2. We obtained from the Florida Department of Health, data on the the number of children less than 72 months of age in each of the high risk counties who had blood lead levels equal to or greater than 10 µg/dL for the years 2001, 2002, and 2003.

3. We then obtained from the Florida Department of Health and the CDC Division of Oral Health, the percent of water fluoridatiion for each of the counties examined. In addition, the status of water fluoridation for city per county was given.

STUDY PROTOCOL - continued

4. From the data obtained, we observed that few of the High Risk counties had either 0% or 100% water fluoridation. Thus, we obtained from the Florida Department of Health, case data by zip code for each of the counties studied for children less than 72 months of age.

5. From the zip codes, we determined the fluoridation status of their city within each studied county

6. We also compared those counties (both high risk and non-high risk with 100% Water Fluoridation versus those counties with 0% Fluoridation as regards the number of childhood lead Poisoning cases.

United StatesHousing Units With A High Risk Of Lead Hazards

http://www.scorecard.org

•FLORIDA •Percentile•States with

High Hazard Indicator

•0% •10% •20% •30%

•440%

•50% •60% •70% •80%•90%

•100%

•                 

•                 

•                 

•                 

•                 

•                 

•                 

•                 

•                 

•                 

•

•

•Number of housing units with a high risk of lead hazards: 50,000

•                                                                                                                                                                                 

•Percent of housing units with a high risk of lead hazards: 1%

•                                                                                                                                                                                 

•Number of housing units built before 1950: 410,000

•                                                                                                                                                                                 

•Number of housing units with low income: 630,000

•                                                                                                                                                                                

•Percent of housing units with low income: 12%

•                                                                                                                                                                                 

•Number of children under 5 living below poverty: 220,000

•                                                                                                                                                                                

•Percent of children under 5 below poverty: 27%

•                                                                                                                                                                                 

www.scorecard.com

*

*

NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS WITH HIGH RISK OF LEAD HAZARDS

This indicator provides a measure of the amount ofhousing units built before 1950 that are occupied by a

low income family in an area.

www.scorecard.org

Florida Counties with Potential Lead Hazards

   

Rank CountyNumber of housing units with a high risk of

lead hazards

1. DADE 15,0002. DUVAL 5,1003. HILLSBOROUGH 4,2004. PINELLAS 3,2005. POLK 2,3006. ESCAMBIA 2,1007. ORANGE 2,0008. BROWARD 1,6009. PALM BEACH 1,60010. VOLUSIA 1,600

Florida Counties Examined in Study

www.scorecard.org

NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS BUILT BEFORE 1950

The number of occupied housing units where construction was completed before 1950.

Florida Counties with Potential Lead Hazards

    (e)

Rank County Number of housing units built before 1950

1. DADE 87,000

2. DUVAL 39,0003. PINELLAS 34,0004. HILLSBOROUGH 33,0005. ORANGE 19,0006. PALM BEACH 18,0007. POLK 17,0008. BROWARD 16,0009. VOLUSIA 14,00010. ESCAMBIA 13,000

www.scorecard.org

NUMBER OF HOUSING UNITS WITH LOW INCOME RESIDENTS

An estimate of the number of housing units occupied by a household living below the poverty level. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

(NHANES) found that children in low-income households were eight times as likely to be lead poisoned as children

in high-income families.

   

Rank County Number of housing units with low income

1. DADE 120,0002. BROWARD 52,0003. HILLSBOROUGH 42,0004. PINELLAS 36,0005. DUVAL 33,0006. PALM BEACH 32,0007. ORANGE 27,0008. POLK 20,0009. VOLUSIA 19,00010. ALACHUA 17,000

www.scorecard.org

CHILDREN UNDER AGE 5 LIVING IN POVERTYAn estimate of the number of children under age five who are in families with incomes below 125% of the poverty level. According to the most recent national blood lead data, children in low-income familes are eight times as likely to be lead poisoned as children in high-income families. A household was defined as poor by NHANES if its income was less than or equal to 130% of the relevant poverty level. Because census data are not available for children according to the NHANES income-poverty ratio, Scorecard presents data for children in households with income below 125% of the poverty level. This indicator shows the acute risk of lead poisoning according to where low income young children are present, since they are at greatest risk of harmful health consequences from exposure to lead.

Counties with Potential Lead Hazards    

Rank County Children under 5 living below poverty

1. DADE 43,0002. BROWARD 16,0003. HILLSBOROUGH 16,0004. DUVAL 14,0005. ORANGE 11,0006. PALM BEACH 11,0007. PINELLAS 9,9008. POLK 8,1009. ESCAMBIA 7,00010. VOLUSIA 5,100

www.scorecard.org

Florida Counties Studied Based on High Risk Factors Contributing To High Levels Of Childhood Lead Poisoning Cases In 2001, 2002, and 2003

1. Dade 8. Broward2. Duval 9. Palm Beach3. Hillsborough 10. Volusia4. Pinellas5. Polk6. Palm Beach7. Escambia

Children's surveillance records were included if they had a venous blood lead Children's surveillance records were included if they had a venous blood lead

level of greater than or equal to 10 micrograms per deciliter found for level of greater than or equal to 10 micrograms per deciliter found for calendar years 2001 and 2002. This is the type of information obtained for all calendar years 2001 and 2002. This is the type of information obtained for all of the counties studied from Ms. Trina Thompson who is the Coordinator for of the counties studied from Ms. Trina Thompson who is the Coordinator for the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Florida Department of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program, Florida Department of Health. Health. The 2003 data received from Ms. Susan Limbaugh from the Florida Health The 2003 data received from Ms. Susan Limbaugh from the Florida Health Department.Department.

20012001       20022002      

COUNTYCOUNTY ZIPZIP # CASES# CASES COUNTYCOUNTY ZIPZIP#CAS#CASESES

PINELLASPINELLAS 3370133701 11 PINELLASPINELLAS 3370133701 22

PINELLASPINELLAS 3370533705 66 PINELLASPINELLAS 3370533705 66

PINELLASPINELLAS 3370733707 11 PINELLASPINELLAS 3370733707 11

PINELLASPINELLAS 3370933709 11 PINELLASPINELLAS 3370933709 33

PINELLASPINELLAS 3371133711 22 PINELLASPINELLAS 3371133711 33

PINELLASPINELLAS 3371233712 55 PINELLASPINELLAS 3371233712 66

PINELLASPINELLAS 3371333713 11 PINELLASPINELLAS 3371333713 22

PINELLASPINELLAS 3375533755 44 PINELLASPINELLAS 3375533755 22

PINELLASPINELLAS 3375633756 33 PINELLASPINELLAS 3375633756 22

PINELLASPINELLAS 3375933759 11 PINELLASPINELLAS 3376033760 22

Map of Florida by County   

                                                                                                                                                        

       

Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia Dade De Soto Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Franklin

Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Martin Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk

                                                           

                   

    N   W ~ E    S   

Try our City / County Finder

Map showing Florida and all its counties. Click on county and all the zip codes within that county will be shown.

Florida Zip Codes

A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y | Z

This Web site was used to relate zip code to both city and Florida county

 

FloridaGo

City Zip Code

County

Alachua 32615 Alachua

Alachua 32616 Alachua

Alford 32420 Jackson

Alligator Point 32346 Franklin

Altamonte Springs 32701 Seminole

Altamonte Springs 32714 Seminole

Altamonte Springs 32715 Seminole

Altamonte Springs 32716 Seminole

Altha 32421 Calhoun

Altoona 32702 Lake

Used to relate zip codesTo cities and countiesIn Florida

http://www.scorecard.org/env-releases/lead/county.tcl?fips_county_code=12069

OPTIMALLY FLUORIDATED WATER SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA OPTIMALLY FLUORIDATED WATER SYSTEMS IN FLORIDA 2001 2001

This is the type of information received which shows for each Florida This is the type of information received which shows for each Florida county, which of its cities have water fluoridation. Florida Dept. of county, which of its cities have water fluoridation. Florida Dept. of Environmental Protection.Environmental Protection.

SYSTEM AND DATESYSTEM AND DATE AREA ORAREA ORPOPULATIOPOPULATIO

NN

COUNTYCOUNTY FLUORIDATED FLUORIDATED COMMUNITY SERVEDCOMMUNITY SERVED SERVEDSERVED

ALACHUAALACHUA City of AlachuaCity of Alachua 5,8235,823

Jun-80Jun-80 Alachua Alachua

Gainesville Regional UtilitiesGainesville Regional Utilities 149,212149,212

Oct-49Oct-49 Gainesville Gainesville

City of HawthorneCity of Hawthorne 2,1162,116

Jul-81Jul-81 Hawthorne Hawthorne

City of High SpringsCity of High Springs 4,4664,466

Jan-79Jan-79 High Springs High Springs

Total # of Children(0-6 years) with Blood LeadLevels >10ug/dL in County Zip

High Risk % Codes Having SiF Treated Water # Children # High RiskCounty Fluoridation 2001 2002 2003 0-6 Years Old Housing Units

Dade 94 174 (174/174) 184 (184/184) 214 (214/214) 212,283 15,000Duval 100 42 (42/42) 49 (49/49) 31 (31/31) 83,721 5,000Hillsborough 84 6 (5/6) 26 (22/26) 41 (28/41) 99,678 4,200Pinellas 36 30 (18/30) 34 (23/34) 48 (33/48) 61,878 3,200Polk 53 6 (4/6) 20 (14/20) 17 (10/17) 44,573 2,300Escambia 81 10 (10/10) 8 (7/8) 7 (7/7) 26.404 2,100Orange 67 6 (4/6) 8 (5/8) 41 (38/41) 93,494 2,000Broward 100 11 (11/11) 23 (23/23) 60 (60/60) 143,271 1,600Palm Beach 16 25 (21/25) 34 (16/34) 60 (42/60) 91,694 1,600Volusia 57 1 (1/1) 2 (0/2) 2 (1/2) 31,466 1,600

862,084290/311 343/388 464/521# Cases per 10,000

2001 2001 2003 2001-2003SiF zip codes 3.26/10,000 3.86/10,000 5.2/10,000 12.7/10,000No SiF zip codes 0.24/10,000 0.51/10,000 0.64/10,000 1.43/10,000Odds Ratio 13.6 7.6 8.1 8.995% CI 0.21 to 858 0.41 to 140.4 0.61 to 109.1 1.57 to 48.36

In those high risk county zip codes for the years 2001-2003having 100% SiF-treated community water 1097 cases ofChildhood lead poisoning were recorded.

1097 cases = 12.72 cases/10,000 children862,084 children

In those high risk county zip codes having 0% SiF-treated Community water there were 123 cases of Childhood leadPoisoning

123 cases = 1.43 cases/10,000 children862,084 children

Odds Ratio = 12.72 = 8.91.43

An Odds ratio of 1.0 means that the risk of high blood lead is Identical whether or not a child is exposed to SiF treatedwater. An Odds Ratio of 8.9 is highly significant.

SiF = Silicofluoride

Childhood LeadFlorida County Poisoning Cases For Year Children 0-60% Fluoridation 2001 2002 Years Of Age

Charlotte 0 0 6527Dixie 0 0 9403Flagler 0 1 2704Gilchrist 1 0 1014Hamilton 0 0 1021Holmes 0 0 1241Jackson 0 1 3086Lafayette 0 3 478Levy 1 3 24318Liberty 4 1 466Martin 4 1 6880Sumter 0 4 2617Union 0 0 902Wakulla 2 2 1753Walton 1 0 2712Washington 0 0 1526

13 16 66648

100% Fluoridation

Duval 42 49 6846Escambia 10 7 21463Monroe 1 2 4053Okaloosa 0 2 13291Okeechobee 5 0 2750Miami-Dade 174 184 178595Brevard 13 8 30546

245 252 257544

Cases of Childhood LeadPoisoning/10,000 ChildrenFor The Years

Fluoridation 2001 2002 2001-2002100% 9.47 9.7 19.20% 1.8 2.4 3.5

5.26 4.04 5.491.16 to 42.61 1.04 to 20.55 1.76 to 17.17

CONCLUSIONS: It would appear from our data from Florida that in those

counties examined which were at High Risk for lead hazards, over 89% of the of the Childhood lead poisoning cases for the years 2001-2003 are in those zip codes of those counties that have silicofluorides added to their water supply.

B) Based on the above, we calculated, based on the odds ratio, that a child living in a High Risk County which has silicofluorides added to their water have an 8.9 times greater risk of having an elevated blood lead level than a comparable child living in a High Risk County without silicofluoride-treated water.

C) Thus, it would appear that living in a community having water fluoridated with SiF increases the likelihood of developing lead poisoning.

Dr. Bruce PachterAdjunct Associate ProfessorDepartment of Rehabilitation MedicineNew York University Medical Center

“It would appear the Fluoridation does Not benefit everyone and may’”cause harm to many