HEALTH EFFECTS: Crippling Skeletal Fluorosis
Summation - Crippling Skeletal Fluorosis:
When the US Environmental Protection Agency established its safe drinking water standard for fluoride in 1985, the only adverse health effect from fluoride which they acknowledged, and sought to prevent, was crippling skeletal fluorosis.
By focusing only on crippling fluorosis, the EPA ignored the earlier stages of skeletal fluorosis which, contrary to EPA's assertions, may produce significant adverse symptoms (e.g. joint pain and stiffness), even in the absence of detectable bone changes.
Excerpts from the Scientific Literature - Crippling Skeletal Fluorosis:
"in fluorosis stage III we can see a complete ossification of the longitudinal ligaments of the spine which has practically stiffened to a stick."
SOURCE: Franke J, et al. (1975). Industrial fluorosis. Fluoride 8: 61-83.
"Due to the extreme fixation of the spine, the body moved as a single unit with each attempt to straighten any portion of it."
SOURCE: Singh A, et al. (1963). Endemic fluorosis. Epidemiological, clinical and biochemical study of chronic fluoride intoxication in Punjab. Medicine 42: 229-246.
"The most striking abnormalities are those of the vertebrae, which are fused to make of the spinal column one long, rigid bone. All the intervertebral discs are completely ossified."
SOURCE: Kilborn LG, et al. (1950). Fluorosis with report of an advanced case. Canadian Medical Association Journal 62: 135-141.
"Thirty-five years ago she began to have pain in her shoulders and the upper part of her spine. At present her back is fixed, so that there is one complete curve from the occiput to the lumbar region. She cannot raise her head to the vertical; the only movement she can make in any part of her spine is a slight lateral rotation of the head.The knees are flexed to counteract the anterior flexion of the spine."
SOURCE: Lyth O. (1946). Endemic fluorosis in Kweichow, China. The Lancet 1: 233-235.
"the rigidity of the spine was a dangerous factor. He did little more than topple over from a squatting position; but, because his spine was in one piece, the weight of the head snapped it in the cervical region."
SOURCE: Lyth O. (1946). Endemic fluorosis in Kweichow, China. The Lancet 1: 233-235.
"Among the most severe cases, four elderly men, there was practically complete rigidity of the entire spine and a more or less pronounced restriction of the head movements."
SOURCE: Roholm K. (1937). Fluoride intoxication: a clinical-hygienic study with a review of the literature and some experimental investigations. London: H.K. Lewis Ltd.
"In order to look sideways he had to turn the whole body...This man was unable to pick anything up from the floor by bending the knees and could not put on his socks without aid."
SOURCE: Roholm K. (1937). Fluoride intoxication: a clinical-hygienic study with a review of the literature and some experimental investigations. London: H.K. Lewis Ltd.
"The younger man had felt stiffness of his back coming on about six years ago, and since then it had gradually increased, until his spine has now become perfectly immovable. He complained a good deal of 'rheumatic' pain across his hips, also when lying down."
SOURCE: Moller P, Gudjonsson SV. (1932). Massive fluorosis of bones and ligaments. Acta Radiologica 12: 269-294.
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