From pfpc@istar.ca Fri Oct 27 14:27:49 2000 Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 13:57:17 -0800 From: PFPC To: webmaster@bruha.com Subject: DEADLY FRAUD The 3-year study below was presented to all York Review members (including advisory panel) in our OPEN LETTER #2, and was included in FULL at the end of other references cited, and receipt acknowleged by York. The study was conducted under a UNICEF Aid program, and we found it in the IDD Technical Database maintained by the University of Virginia, as published in the Newsletter of the International Council for Control of Iodine Deficiency Disorders (ICCIDD) (Volume 7 Number 3 August 1991). The "normal" fluoride level here is defined as 0.34 ppm and "high" level as 0.88 ppm, levels BELOW the "optimal" intake suggested for water fluoridation. Paul Wilson said at York: "...we've looked at 50 years of the best research and we've not been able to find any association with any harm.'' (AP) This "brilliant" York lead researcher also said he looked at all studies with water levels up to 4ppm. Did he, now? When reading the paper below, the following questions arise: Is there anything wrong with this research that is of questionable quality? Is there something wrong with the data? Is this not dealing with fluoride in the water? As - according to the ICCIDD and Kiwanis - 1.6 billion people are at risk of IDD, and 2 million children die every year of IDD, and 50 million children suffer from brain damage due to IDD, is this NOT a concern? A problem affecting at least a third of the world's population, including many developed countries? An estimated 28 million babies are born each year at risk of mental impairment due to insufficient iodine in their mothers' diets. The recent findings from the biggest such study ever undertaken in the US by Haddow et al (NEJM, 1999) showed that mere subclinical hypothyroidism in the mother is enough to cause loss of IQ, and learning and behaviour disorders in the child. In most cases mothers weren't diagnosed until 5 years after. Pregnant women with underactive thyroids are four times more likely to have children with low IQs if the disorder is left untreated. The study found that 19 percent of the children born to mothers with thyroid deficiency had IQ scores of 85 or lower, compared with only 5 percent of those born to mothers without such problems. The children who score in this range may face lifelong developmental challenges. In a accompanying press release Haddow said, "It's the kind of cutoff that tells you you're going to have more troubles in school and more troubles in life in general." Considering these findings, the real number of children affected by IDD might well be many-fold higher. The symptoms of subclinical hypothyroidism are identical to those observed by Moolenburgh in his double-blind study which led to the banning of fluoridation in Holland. Hundreds of thousands of children and adults suffer the most debilitating effect of iodine deficiency: a condition known as cretinism - something which Goldemberg was able to produce in rats with 3mg of NaF- per day more than 70 years ago. v. Fellenberg had reported fluoride content in the thyroid of cretins to be 10 times higher than controls, while May (1950) made similar observations investigating F- levels in the blood of cretins. -------- "The Relationship of a Low-Iodine and High-Fluoride Environment to Subclinical Cretinism in Xinjiang" Lin Fa-Fu, Aihaiti, Zhao Hong-Xin, Lin Jin, Jiang Ji-Yong, Maimaiti, and Aiken. Xinjiang Institute for Endemic Disease Control and Research; Office of Leading Group for Endemic Disease Control of Hetian Prefectural Committee of the Communist Party of China; and County Health and Epidemic Prevention Station, Yutian, Xinjiang. http://www.google.com/search?q=cache:www.hsc.virginia.edu/~jtd/iccidd/idddocs/id d891.htm Cretinism in iodine-deficiency areas is well known, yet the milder forms of somatic and psychomotor maldevelopment and thyroid dysfunction caused by iodine deficiency may be more difficult to detect. DeQuervain, in 1936, called this milder form "semi-cretinism," while in 1980 Laggasse used the term "cretinoidism." It was formally named "subclinical endemic cretinism" at a symposium on subclinical cretinism held in Xinzhou, Shanxi province in 1985. Currently, attention is being focused on these disorders in China and abroad. The Hetian prefecture in Xinjiang has reportedly been one of the Asian areas most severely affected by iodine deficiency disorders (IDD). During the period 1987-1989, we made a systematic survey of subclinical endemic cretinism in this district under a UNICEF aid Project. Materials and Methods General conditions and selection of affected areas - The entire region of Xinjiang in central Eurasia is affected by iodine deficiency. The study area, located between the southern border of Tarim basin and the northern slope of Kunlun Mountains, is arid with sandy soil and an annual precipitation less than 50 mm. The cultivated alluvial plain extends from south to north with a steepening gradient. The geographical distributions of endemic goiter and endemic fluorosis are characterized by marked vertical zones. The inhabitants are of lower socioeconomic status, with an annual mean income of about 200 yuan (RMB) per person. Area with high fluoride and low iodine levels (Area A) - In the township Xinyuan in the lower reaches of Kliya river in the county of Yutian, north of the highway, we examined 250 schoolchildren, aged 7-14 years. The goiter prevalence was 91% and dental fluorosis 20.80%. The average level of iodine in drinking water was 5.21 mg/l, and that of fluoride 0.88 mg/l. Area with low iodine level (area B) - In the townships of Langan and Jiayi in the alluvial plain before the mountains and to the south of the highway, we examined 256 schoolchildren, aged 7-14 years. The goiter prevalence was 82% and dental fluorosis of 16.00%. The average water iodine level was 0.96 mg/l and that of fluoride 0.34 mg/l. Control area with iodine supplementation (Area C) - In the suburbs of Hetian where the nationalities, habits, customs, and income were basically similar and where iodine supplementation in the form of iodized salt or oil has been implemented since 1982, we examined 243 schoolchildren aged 7-14 years. Methods of Examination Intelligence test - We used the Combined Raven's Test for Rural China (CRT-RC). It is culturally fair, non-linguistic, and particularly suitable for intelligence screening in minorities. According to the scale, an IQ of 50-69 means mild mental retardation. Hearing was tested with different frequencies by electroaudiometry with MST Audiometer (Nagashima Medical Instruments, Co., Ltd.). Psychiatric-psychological function was tested by the reaction time tester type XZ-I, knock tester type QJ-I and action stability tester type WD-Z (Chengde Medical Apparatus and Instruments Factory), with Ding Zhi-Min's normal values of psychomotilities as references (2). Bone age was estimated from right palmar carpal roentgenograms by the method of Li Guo-Zhen (3). Thyroid 131I uptake in 24 hours was determined using automatic scaler type 126 and GM tube. Thyroid hormones were measured with kits provided by the Beijing Institute of Atomic Energy. Methods of epidemiological study - We randomly selected a class of students in each affected area and examined for endemic goiter, endemic fluorosis, body height, weight, and intelligence. Using random stratified sampling method, we examined 10-12 students for hearing, the four psychomotilities, bone age, thyroid I131 uptake and thyroid hormone. The data obtained were analyzed by variance and multivariate stepwise regression with IBM-XT electronic computer. Results and Analyses Somatic development of children aged 7-14 in iodine-deficient areas - The values for weight/height X 100% of 295 children from the iodine-deficient areas showed a retardation of 1 to 1.5 years compared to those of 1,632 iodine supplemented children from suburb of Urumqi (p < 0.01). In area A, 29% showed detectable bone retardation, compared with 13% in area B and 6% in control area C. Table 1 shows comparative data for the three areas. Both iodine deficient areas (A and B) differed from the control area C by having lower IQ's, higher hearing threshold, increased 131I uptake, higher TSH, and lower urinary iodine. Area A (high fluoride, low iodine) differed from area B (normal fluoride, low iodine) by having lower mean IQ, higher TSH, slightly higher 131I uptake, and higher urinary iodine. -------------- Table (here inserted by PFPC for ease of observation) AREA C: Control: Iodine normal, Fluoride normal (presumed 0.34ppm) AREA B: Iodine low (0.96mg; Fluoride normal (0.34ppm) AREA A: Iodine low (5.21mg; Fluoride "high" (0.88ppm) AREA.......C (Control).........B (0.34ppm F-)...A (0.88ppm F-) rT3..........21ng/dl...............32ng/dl.............58ng/dl rT3/T3 ratio..........N/A......................5.8....................2.91 Bone retardation..6%....................13%...................29% Mental retardation..8%.....................16%...................25% Average auditory threshold......16.....................20.....................24 (in db) Average IQ..................96...................77.....................71 I131 Uptake(%)......24.....................50....................60 TSH (mU/ml)...........6......................11....................21 -------------- Relationships between IQ of children in iodine-deficient areas and parameters of somatic development, psychomotility and thyroid function - The relationships of IQs of 130 patients with complete data to 15 factors were studied by correlation analysis and stepwise regression analysis. Factors closely related to IQ were, in order, age, frequency of knock, weight/height X 100% and TSH. Abnormality rates of various parameters of feebleminded children, aged 7-14 - In children with IQ in the range of 50-69, indices of all parameters were beyond the normal range. The abnormality rates of different parameters were, in turn, 74% for ratio of weight/height/age, 59% for TSH, 61% for thyroid I131 uptake, 60% for frequency of mistake, 47% for frequency of knock, and 35% for hearing. In terms of accessory diagnostic conditions for subclinical cretinism (4), those who met one item of the conditions accounted for 69% and those who met two items made up 56%. Discussion One hundred and four children with mental retardation were detected in all. Area A had 25%, area B 16%, and area C 8%. The significant differences in IQ among these regions suggests that fluoride can exacerbate central nervous lesions and somatic developmental disturbance caused by iodine deficiency. This may be in keeping with fluoride's known ability to cause degenerative changes in central nervous system cells and to inhibit the activities of many enzymes, including choline enzymes, causing disturbance of the nerve impulse (5). We found significant differences among the three areas, indicating that lack of iodine in children results in disturbance of the process of growth and ossification and that high fluoride intake can further disturb bone development (6,7). Also, the auditory threshold was significantly different among the three areas, with severe loss of hearing in high fluoride and low iodine areas. Severe iodine deficiency in early fetal life has adverse effects on the development and differentiation of the acoustic organ, and we suggest that high fluoride intake may also promote hearing loss. In this study, we found that 69% of the children with mental retardation had elevated TSH levels. IQ and TSH were negatively correlated. Many investigators regard an elevated TSH in the presence of normal T4 and T3 levels as evidence for hypothyroidism that is subclinical but that can still affect the development of brain and cerebral function to some degree (6). Reverse T3 (rT3) is formed from T4 by 3-deiodination in peripheral tissue. The balance of active T3 and inactive rT3 in the serum reflects thyroid hormone economy. In high fluoride and low iodine areas, the rT3 value was 58 ng/dl (the normal value, 21 ng/dl), and the ratio of rT3/T3 was 2.91, significantly low. In areas of low iodine the rT3 value was 32 ng/dl, and the ratio of rT3/T3 was 5.8. It is possible that excess fluoride ion affects normal deiodination. We detected 104 cases with mental retardation among 769 schoolchildren, aged 7-14, in different affected areas. Some 69% of our cases with mental retardation had one or more items of the accessory conditions recommended for the diagnosis of subclinical cretinism by the National Conference on Subclinical Cretinism held in Xinzhou (4). According to the cautious suggestion of Qian Qi-Dong that the diagnosis should require two or more of the accessory conditions, 56% of our cases could still be diagnosed as having subclinical cretinism. Currently, in the vast remote areas of South Xinjiang the control of IDD with iodized salt has not yet been generally implemented and the prevalence of subclinical cretinism is still high. This situation is a great obstacle to the child health, agricultural development, and economic prosperity of minority nationalities in South Xinjiang and necessitates prompt implementation of iodine supplementation to control subclinical cretinism. Summary We studied a total of 769 schoolchildren of 7-14 years in three areas, characterized by intakes of (A) low iodine, high fluoride; (B) low iodine, normal fluoride; and (C) iodine supplemented, normal fluoride. Results for the following parameters for areas A, B, and C, respectively were: (a) average IQ: 71, 77, 96; (b) average auditory threshold (in dB): 24, 20, 16; (c) bone age retardation (%): 28, 13, 4; (d) thyroid 131I uptake (%): 60, 50, 24; and (e) serum TSH (mU/ml): 21, 11, 6. Statistically significant differences existed between these areas, suggesting that a low iodine intake coupled with high fluoride intake exacerbates the central nervous lesions and the somatic developmental disturbance of iodine deficiency. The detection rate of subclinical endemic cretinism in children with mental retardation was 69%, and the total attack rate of subclinical endemic cretinism 9%. References 1.Ma Xin-Yuan, et al 1987 The study of subclinical endemic cretinism in Fujian province. Proceedings of the 3rd National Conference on Endemic Goitre and Endemic Cretinism. Chinese Centre for Endemic Disease Control and Research, pp 120-125. 2.Ding Zhi-Min 1987 Use of psychomotility function test and exploration of its normal values. Chinese J of Control of Endemic Diseases 3:18-20. 3.Li Guo-Zhen, et al 1979 A study of the development of bone: II Percentage estimation of bone age. Chinese J Rad 13:19-23. 4.Li Jian-Qun, et al 1987 A Practical Handbook of Prophylaxis and Treatment of Endemic Goitre and Endemic Cretinism. Chinese Environmental Science Publishing House, 1st edition, pp 64-69. 5.Ren Da-Li 1989 An investigation of intelligence development of children aged 8-14 years in high-fluoride and low-iodine areas. Chinese J of Control of Endemic Diseases 4:251. 6.Liu Cheng-Shan, et al 1987 Studies on diagnostic criteria for subclinical cretinism. Proceedings of the 3rd National Conference on Endemic Goitre and Endemic Cretinism. Chinese Centre for Endemic Disease Control and Research, pp 142-147. 7.Zhang Ying-Xiu 1989 Effect of fluoride on the growth development of children. Chinese J Endemiology 4:240. 8.Qian Qi-Dong 1987 Subclinical endemic cretinism. Chinese J Endemiology 6:4-9. ---------------------------------------------------------------- COMMENTARY: The harm shown here is truly horrendous. As iodine deficiency affects a third of the global population, this is a very GREAT and urgent problem - would anyone with common sense, integrity and concern for mankind here NOT agree? By comparing areas of endemic fluorosis with those of endemic iodine deficiency, PFPC has estimated that a quarter of these deaths are directly attributable to fluoride - a very conservative figure - meaning every minute at least one child dies due to fluoride-induced iodine deficiency. We informed York of this as well. Not only do we accuse the York Review of gross scientific fraud, we also accuse them of knowingly contributing to the unnecessary death of over 500,000 children. Instead of advising those millions and millions of people at risk of IDD to stay away from ALL sources of F-, these people are now being told by this great scientific marvel that an INCREASE of fluoride levels to 1ppm surely would cause no harm besides those nasty "enamel defects" which are only of "aesthetic concern" and can be rectified, according to Wilson. Meanwhile, those enamel defects are identical to those caused by IDD. How much longer is this fraud going to continue before we ALL do something to stop it, on a GLOBAL level?? Sincerely, Parents of Fluoride Poisoned Children (PFPC) Vancouver, BC, Canada -------- FALSE STATEMENT: made with knowedge that it is false. ("knowingly") MISLEADING : calculated to lead astray or lead into error. FRAUD : Exploitation through misrepresentation of the facts or concealment of the purposes of the exploiter.