What Is It?

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32394, 5 September 1970, Page 12

What Is It?

Sir, “Young Mum’s” graphic and telling description of pagan reaction to ecological research into presentday health problems would indeed scare us had we not a wholesome faith in good statesmanship and the individual’s birthright as a fully informed citizen in this new age. The dawn light has irrevocably projected its searching beam upon a vaster ecological field than ever before known to western civilisation And this fact alone demonstrates the urgency for a total approach to first causes and an integrated, non-fragmented policy for their eradication. Totalitarian measures which override valuable interrelated knowledges of enlightened and peace-desiring minorities can only hamper the essential unity that all this earth’s ethical thinkers are working to bring about.—Yours, etc., REALIST. September 4, 1970.

Sir, —A few facts regarding sodium fluoride. (1) At best, there may still be a serious long-term health risk as it is a highly toxic chemical. (2) Quoting from an article in “Health For All,” “The British Pharmaceutical Codex” states: “Chronic poisoning results from continued ingestion of small quantities . . . and is characterised by slowly progressive wasting, anaemia, and brittleness of the bones.” (3) The London “Sunday Times” reports: “Sodium fluoride exudations from brickworks, steelworks, and aluminium smelting works were producing in cattle a serious disease called fluorosis. Mysterious subhealth conditions resulted in Andover and Kilmarnock and fluoridation was necessarily terminated. It is to be hoped that we do not hear of further end results in 10 or 20 years time, as has been suggested as very possible.” (4) Fluorides in the atmosphere are known by world authorities to attack grapevine leaves. He who hesitates need not be lost.—Yours, etc., THINKER. September 3, 1970. [This correspondence is now closed.—Ed., “The Press.”]