Does the water you drink, cook and in which you bathe come from a private well at your home rather than from the public supply? If that is the case, it may be a good idea to have it tested for fluoride because well water in some communities in Maine contains dangerously high levels. The ingestion of large amounts of this mineral is linked to an array of maladies, including lower IQ.
Many residents of Maine rely on private water wells. The problem is that this water is not subject to state or federal guidelines like that from the public supply, so homeowners are encouraged to get it tested for bacteria and naturally occurring minerals. However, many haven’t heeded these recommendations and consequently, may be putting their health at risk. New data reveals 10 communities in the state have very high fluoride levels, in some cases more than twice the acceptable maximum level set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Moreover, when you factor in fluoride from toothpaste and mouth rinses, the level of exposure could be even higher.
Harmful Effects of Fluoride
While advocates of water fluoridation dispute the health concerns of the growing number of scientists and experts who are opposed to the practice, no one debates the health hazards of exposure to large amounts of the mineral. These include discolored and pitted teeth along with brittle bones that are more prone to fractures. Other studies show fluoride may increase the risk of cancer and infertility. In addition, Australian research in the 1970s discovered that as low as a 1-ppm fluoride concentration can impede the repair enzymes of DNA by 50 percent, an effect that would accelerate aging and hinder the functioning of many organs of the body.
One of the most disturbing health disorders associated with fluoride is IQ deficits. A Harvard review of studies conducted mainly in China reveals exposure to high amounts have reduced children’s IQ by approximately seven points. Published in Environmental Health Perspectives, the research notes that the developing brain of children is much more susceptible to harm from toxins than the brain of adults, and the damage may be permanent. The levels that produced this effect in China are the levels present in some private wells in Maine, State Toxicologist Andrew Smith told Scientific American.
Why Are Maine’s Fluoride Levels So High?
Experts say the problem is due to the granite that is part of the state’s geology. Granite, especially certain varieties, contains large quantities of fluoride, a factor that increases the potential for water contamination. New Hampshire and Rhode Island have much granite in their geology, so wells in these states may also be at risk for high fluoride levels.
What Can You Do to Protect Yourself?
Countertop water filters will not eliminate the problem, but reverse osmotic systems will remove most of the fluoride. The purchase price of these systems starts at $150. It’s important to get a purification device that will get rid of the mineral from your bathing water as well as drinking water.
Residents should listen to the warnings from the experts and take action to protect themselves. “The studies of high fluoride should be taken seriously,” says Harvard University environmental health professor David Bellinger. “We have a long history of first identifying adverse effects at high levels and then, with further and better studies, discovering that there are adverse effects [milder] at levels that we thought were okay.”
Sources:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-fluoride-in-private-wells-causing-an-iq-decline1/
Mary West is a natural health enthusiast, as she believes this area can profoundly enhance wellness. She is the creator of a natural healing website where she focuses on solutions to health problems that work without side effects. You can visit her site and learn more at http://www.alternativemedicinetruth.com. Ms. West is also the author of Fight Cancer Through Powerful Natural Strategies.
