Drinking Water, Say What?
Since my first acquaintance with ozone water, and researching its benefits I was inevitably led further down the rabbit whole. So much so that I decided to look into something that we far too often take for granted… something so simple and obvious…something like; water.
As a child I quite clearly remember being told that the tap water in South Africa is of the highest quality, so much so that, it actually strengthens our teeth. It tastes amazing, and personally I had never experienced any dissatisfaction with the water system. Until I started to wonder; why have Europe been using ozone purification for over 100 years and why wasn’t the rest of the world? Furthermore; what are we using in South Africa?
Fluoride is the very astounding truth.
Firstly, let me briefly explain the effects of fluoride and why most countries simply WILL NOT use it as a means to purify their water:
Fluoride consumption leads to lowered intelligence. One of the most researched side effects of fluoride is what it does to lower your IQ.
Plain and simple; fluoride makes you stupid. In pregnant woman, it can effect the brain development of an unborn child.
"Fluoride readily crosses the placenta. Fluoride exposure to the developing brain, which is much more susceptible to injury caused by toxicants than is the mature brain, may possibly lead to damage of a permanent nature."
Increased risk of cancer. According to a study by the Harvard School of Dental Health, fluoride in tap water increases risk of bone cancer in boys, at levels currently present in fluoridated water supplies.
Fluoride said to contain neurotoxins. This is especially true for children, whose brains are developing rapidly during their earliest years.
"Prolonged excessive intake of fluoride during child’s growth and development stages has been associated with mental and physical problems," say researchers from the Dental Research Center and Department of Pediatric Dentistry, Dental School, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran, which was published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health. “Children residing in areas with higher than normal water fluoride levels demonstrated more impaired development of intelligence. Thus, children’s intelligence may be affected by high water fluoride levels.”
Fluoride can impede thyroid function. Another major problem caused by fluoride ingestion is the damage it can cause your thyroid gland.
The thyroid, which regulates the body’s metabolic rate, is extremely important in overall human health. Chemicals like fluoride can cause thyroid disruption, and can especially cause the thyroid to under-perform (hypothyroidism).
In September 2001 the Department of Health legislated regulations in respect of fluoridation of potable water in South Africa. Fluoridating potable water is considered by some as being unconstitutional in that the use of fluoridated water is forced on consumers who have no choice in the matter. During the past 5 years water boards, and Rand Water in particular, made several submissions to the appropriate ministries. A key aspect of these submissions is that Rand Water sought indemnity from the Department of Health against any claims arising from the fluoridation of water that may give rise to possible health implications or impact on the environment or industrial water users.
"The rationale for supplementing drinking water with fluoride is that South Africans, particularly those in rural areas who do not use fluoridated toothpaste, would benefit." - Rand Water
The mandatory introduction of water fluoridation will cost water consumers in South Africa approximately R30 million per annum.
Rand Water does not consider fluoridation of water as the highest priority for South Africa. In fact, the total estimated national cost of R30 million per annum should rather be used to extend the provision of free water to South Africans. Based on Rand Water’s experience the R30 million could extend water provision to some 300 000 unserved consumers.
The Department of Health has legislated regulations indicating that water service providers are obliged to fluoridate water, and Rand Water are forced to comply with these regulations.
Approximately 1 000kg of fluoride per day has found its way into water streams. This may have long-term negative consequences on the water environment.
It is important to understand that the dose cannot be controlled. Once fluoride is put in the water it is impossible to control the dose each individual receives because people drink different amounts of water. Being able to control the dose a person receives is critical. Some people (e.g., manual laborers, athletes, diabetics, and people with kidney disease) drink substantially more water than others.
Consider this brief history of fluoride:
At the end of World War II, the US government sent Charles Eliot Perkins, a research worker in chemistry, biochemistry, physiology and pathology, to take charge of the vast Farben chemical plants in Germany. The German chemists told Perkins of a scheme which they had devised during the war and had been adapted by the German General Staff. The German chemists explained of their attempt to control the population in any given area through the mass medication of drinking water with sodium fluoride, a tactic used in German and Russian prisoner of war camps to make the prisoners “stupid and docile”(Stephen 1995). Farben had developed plans during the war to fluoridate the occupied countries because it was found that fluoridation caused slight damage to a specific part of the brain, making it more difficult for the person affected to defend his freedom and causing the individual to become more docile towards authority. Fluoride remains one of the strongest anti-psychotic substances known, and is contained in twenty-five percent of the major tranquilizers. It may not seem surprising that Hitler’s regime practiced the concept of mind control through chemical means, but the American military continued Nazi research, exploring techniques to incapacitate an enemy or medicate an entire nation. (Stephen 1995).
Now ask yourself; why does the department of health want high levels of fluoride pumped into rural areas, or why R30 million a year funds water that lowers your IQ?
Further reading and credits:
How To Remove Fluoride From Drinking Water