This document summarizes a report that examines the potential toxic effects of fluoride ingestion and compares disease rates between fluoridated Ireland and non-fluoridated areas. It finds significantly higher rates of numerous diseases in fluoridated Ireland, including early onset dementia, sudden infant death syndrome, various cancers, respiratory disease, diabetes, and Down syndrome. Experts in fluoride toxicity endorse the report and its importance in potentially ending fluoridation practices.

1. Fluoride and its contribution to
heart disease, cancer, respiratory
disease, dementia, diabetes, obesity
and Downs Syndrome.
Case study Fluoridated Ireland

2. HEART DISEASE

3. • The U.S National Research Council of
the National Academies of Sciences,
Engineering and Medicine (2006) found
that Fluoride may indirectly contribute to
a number of diseases, including
hypertension and arteriosclerosis.

4. • Hypertension is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.
• Hypertension stresses your body’s blood vessels, causing
them to clog or weaken. Hypertension can lead to
atherosclerosis.
• Most strokes (about 80%) are ischaemic, and most of those are
caused by atherosclerosis.
• Atherosclerosis is a condition where the arteries become
narrowed and hardened due to an excessive build up of plaque
around the artery wall. This potentially causes blood clots that
can result in life-threatening conditions such as heart attack,
stroke and other cardiovascular diseases

5. • It is now known that increased insulin resistance
impaired glucose tolerance and vascular wall
inflammation increases coronary artery calcification.
• The U.S National Research Council of the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
documented that fluoride affects insulin secretion,
increases blood glucose, impairs glucose tolerance
and increases inflammatory response in humans.

6. • A major study published by the American Journal of
Medicine in 2006 found that there is a 65% increased
risk of coronary heart disease in individuals with
subclinical hypothyroidism.
• Water fluoridation chemicals are low dose endocrine
disrupting chemicals that affect the thyroid gland.

7. Deaths in Ireland due to cardiovascular disease are
(176/100,000 of the population) compared with the average
EU figure of 108/100,000).
That’s 62% higher than the EU average.
Ireland has the highest rate of premature deaths (<65 years)
from CVD in the EU.
The premature death rate in Ireland is almost
twice the EU average.

9. CANCER

10. • Overall cancer incidence in the European Region is
379 cases per 100 000.
• The cancer incidence rate for the Republic of Ireland is
764 per 100,000.
Source: The European Health Report 2012, World Health Organization
The National Academies of the United States stated in 2006
“Alternations in DNA suggest that Fluoride has the potential
to cause genetic effects as well as carcinogenic potential.., AND
Fluoride appears to have the potential to initiate or promote cancers.”

11. • The European regional average overall cancer
mortality is 168 per 100 000.
• The cancer mortality rate for the Republic of Ireland is
242 per 100,000.
• Cancer mortality rates are 44% above the EU Region

12. Cancer Incidence
in Ireland 85%
above European
region average.
Ireland is the only
country with
mandatory
fluoridation of
drinking water in
European
continent.

15. The US National Research Council
identified fluoride as an endocrine
disruptor in 2006.
The international Endocrine Journal
identified water fluoridation
chemicals as low dose endocrine
disruptors on 2012.

16. A 2013 report for the WHO and UNEP in 2013 examined how
endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) contribute to endocrine
cancers as well as other medical disorders:

17. Prostate
cancer is a
endocrine
cancer. Ireland
highest in
World.
Ireland

18. Ovarian cancer
is a endocrine
cancer.
Ireland has the
highest mortality
in EU from
Ovarian cancer.

19. Endocrine
disrupting
chemical cause
immune
disease. Ireland
has the highest
mortality in EU
from immune
disorders.

20. Respiratory disease

21. The National Academies of the United States stated in 2006
“Fluoride also augments (increases) the inflammatory response
to irritants”
According to the U.S. National Institute of Health National Heart, Lung
and Heart Institute :
“Long-term exposure to lung irritants that damage the lungs
and the airways usually is the cause of COPD.”
COPD refers to a broad classification of disorders that
includes chronic bronchitis, emphysema and in some cases
Asthma.

22. Fluoridated Ireland has the
highest incidence of COPD
of OECD countries followed
by Fluoridated New Zealand
and Australia

24. • The death rate from diseases of the respiratory
system in the EU-27 is 45.9 per 100 000
inhabitants
• The death rate for Ireland is 62 per 100,000.
• Mortality rates are 35%above the EU-27 average.
The National Academies of the United States stated in 2006
“There is no question that fluoride can affect the cells involved in providing
immune responses.”

25. Fluoridated Ireland has
the highest mortality
from respiratory
disease in Western
Europe

27. DEMENTIA-ALZHEIMER’S

28. The National Academies of the United States stated in 2006
“Fluorides also increase the production of free radicals
in the brain through several different biological pathways. These
changes have a bearing on the possibility that fluorides act
to increase the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease”
“Aluminium Fluorides (created by fluoridating water that is also
treated with ALUM a chemical used as a coagulant in treating
drinking water) not only provides false messages throughout
the nervous system but, at the same time, diminishes the
energy essential for brain function”
“It is apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the
functions of the brain and the body by direct and indirect means”

29. The incidence of early
onset dementia in
Fluoridated Republic of
Ireland is 450% higher
than in non fluoridated
Northern Ireland

30. DIABETES AND OBESITY

31. The U.S National Research Council of the National
Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine
stated in 2006:
• “Sufficient fluoride exposure appears to bring about
increases in blood glucose or impaired glucose
tolerance in some individuals and to increase the
severity of some types of diabetes” and
“that given the increasing prevalence of diabetes
mellitus any role of fluoride exposure in the
development of impaired glucose metabolism or
diabetes is potentially significant.”

32. • According to the WHO the standardised disease ratio
for diabetes (2010) in Ireland for all ages is 9.5 per
100,000 compared to 5.97 for the UK.
• This is 60% higher than the UK.
• The prevalence of diabetes in non-fluoridated NI is
3.8 per cent of the population, while the UK average
is 4.45%.
• Official figures from the Dept of Health, which are
regarded as an underestimate of the true incidence,
estimates the prevalence of diabetes in Ireland at 6.1
per cent of the population.
• This is 60%higher than non-fluoridated Northern
Ireland.

33. • A 2011 study conducted by VHI on 11,500 people in
Ireland without a prior diagnosis of diabetes aged
45-75 found that 11% of this subgroup had
undiagnosed diabetes.
• This figure combined with diagnosed cases of
diabetes means Ireland has one of the highest
incidences of diabetes in the developed world and
significantly above the EU average.

34. Top 5 of 6 countries
all have either
fluoridated water.
Mexico has
fluoridated salt
programme and high
natural fluoride
levels in water. UK
has 10% population
fluoridated,
Luxembourg has
high natural fluoride
levels in water.
Increases in
blood glucose
and impaired
glucose
tolerance
leads to
obesity.

35. The U.S National Research Council of the National Academies
of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine stated in 2006 :
“The possible association of cytogenetic effects of
fluoride exposure suggests that Down’s syndrome
is a biologically plausible outcome of exposure to
fluoride”
“A few studies of human populations have suggested
that fluoride might be associated with alterations in
reproductive hormones, fertility and Down’s syndrome”

36. DOWNS SYNDROME
AND SUDDEN INFANT DEATH
SYNDROME

38. Top 5 countries all
have fluoridated
water

39. • The current report by Irish Environmental Scientist Declan
Waugh, presents the published findings of the United States
National Research Council (NRC) Scientific Committee on
Fluoride, presenting their observations in regard to the
potential toxic effects of ingestion of fluorides and examining
these findings in regard to the published health data for
disease incidence and mortality in the Republic of Ireland.
• The study examines a wide range of diseases, comparing the
incidence and mortality for fluoridated southern Ireland with
non-fluoridated northern Ireland while also including an
examination of health data from other non fluoridated
European countries in addition to the few international
countries which practice fluoridation.
• Report is available at http://www.enviro.ie/Feb2013.pdf

40. • The report documents a highly significant increased burden
of disease being recorded for Southern Ireland with the most
pronounced variation being early onset dementia (450%)
followed by sudden infant death syndrome (300%),
sarcoidosis (250%), congenital hypothyroidism (220%),
osteoporosis (100%) Downs syndrome (83%), depression
(78%), rheumatoid arthritis (60%) diabetes (60%) and cancer
(highest 55%).
• A significantly increased risk for a wide range of cancers are
to be found in ROI compared to non-fluoridated NI or Europe.
• In addition a greatly increased incidence of respiratory
disease such as COPD are present in Ireland, mortality from
respiratory disease is the highest in Western Europe.
• The Republic of Ireland is the only EU country with a
mandatory legislative policy mandating fluoridation of water.

41. • Commenting on Declan Waugh’s report Dr. Robert Isaacson, distinguished
Emeritus professor of psychology, a scientific academic who is highly
regarded as an international expert in environmental pollutants and
neurotoxicity, past president of the International Behavioral Neuroscience
Society, member of the editorial board of the respected international
journal Brain Research and who was a senior member of the United States
National Academy of Sciences-Scientific Committee on the toxic effects of
Fluoride in drinking water said:
• “ I am greatly impressed by the extraordinary work undertaken by Mr.
Waugh” and added “If it could be distributed widely one might be able to
save some lives.” Dr. Isaacson also said “Governments must understand
how dangerous fluorides really are. Until this happens, the contamination
will continue. Somehow the whole country has to realize the problems and
force actions to stop water fluoridation. That is why Mr. Waugh’s work is so
important.”

42. • Furthermore Dr. Theissen, also a senior member of the U.S National
Research Council Scientific Committee that examined the biological
impacts of fluoride in 2006, commented saying:
"Mr. Declan Waugh is one of the latest in a string of independent
professionals over several decades to review the scientific and medical
literature on water fluoridation and conclude that there is no merit to the
practice and substantial risk of harm to large numbers of people. Many of
these professionals have spoken out against the practice, even risking
livelihoods or professional reputations to do so. I hope that your
government will take note of Mr. Waugh's reports, and that his efforts will
serve to help bring about an end to a demonstrably harmful practice.”