This was an E-mail I received from: Andreas Schuld on September 17, 1999
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I am writing to share information obtained while researching hypothyroidism
and fluoride poisoning.
I have come across several websites which reported that hypothyroidism is
THE mayor health concern among dog owners and breeders. I would like to
make you aware of the role of fluorides as a cause for hypothyroidism.
Many people are not aware that fluorides were at one time given as
_effective_ anti-thyroid medication to hyperthyroid patients, specifically
to reduce thyroid activity (1a,b,c,d,e). Doses ranged from 0.9 to 4.5 mg a
day, obviously much less than is consumed by a dog (or humans!) every day.
Many dog foods contain extremely high amounts of fluoride.
Studies report a "low" fluoride content as 55 or 56 ppm (or mg/kg), high as
460 ppm (mg/kg).(2,3)
In 1980 Thompson et al (4) reported that the phosphate industry, along with
university researchers and the Association of American Feed Control
Officials (AAFCO), set up standards for safe levels of fluoride in feed
phosphates. A P to F ratio of 100:1 was adopted in 1952 for any product
sold to the feed industry as "defluorinated phosphate." This level was
considered "safe", although plenty of research already existed at the time
documenting the toxic effects of F-. Thompson further writes that this
level was still considered safe by the industry in 1980, which is simply
outrageous considering the overwhelming amount of literature available with
evidence to the contrary, on animals as well as humans.
According to Thompson, "industry has the technology to produce feed
phosphates of lower fluoride content; however, there is an increased cost
in further reducing fluoride content"...
Hm...
Studies exist which claim to supply evidence that fluorides are not
responsible for certain health effects in dogs. This is simply shoddy
science. For example, studies were undertaken in Allegan County, Michigan,
as part of an investigation of reproductive problems in Shetland sheepdogs
(shelties). In 1980 the authors, Marks et al (2), wrote that since 1970, at
least 115 sheltie litters at this kennel had been grossly deformed and/or
had died, generally within 3 days of birth. The causative factor(s)
appeared to be associated with the environment, as the shelties had had
successful pregnancies elsewhere. There was some concern that a potential
threat to human reproduction also might exist in this area. It was
discovered that fluoride in the dog food had caused mottled teeth and bony
exostoses in dogs at this and at least two other kennels. The authors
undertook a project in which they fed the dogfood to rats (!) to determine
the reproduction toxicity of fluoride. They fed groups the dog food
containing either high (460ppm) or low fluoride (56ppm), later concluding
that fluorides made no difference and only showed dental fluorosis and no
other health effects, but never indicating that they looked for any, and
how. They further stated that rats cannot be used in the search for the
cause(s) of reproductive problems in dogs in this kennel, something which
should have been obvious from the start. At no time was a control group
used, which had NO fluoride in the diet. [For your info, impaired thyroid
function in rats has already has already been documented at 1ppm!(5)]
The same authors undertook another study in 1990 (1b), this time funded by
Uptown's pharmacological research department, where almost identical doses
were used, but not a NO fluoride investigation. This time, although some
abnormalities could clearly be observed, again the authors claimed that
fluorides were not the cause. In 1994 Marks released yet another paper,
discussing voltage abnormalities as the possible cause (1c)...
Toxicity of fluoride in reproduction has been documented many times in
animal studies (6,7,8,9) as well as humans.(10,11)
Here in Canada, government information on animals such as sheep and their
mineral requirements clearly mark fluorides as the cause of mottled teeth,
dry hair, lameness, and _ poor reproduction_. (12)
The fact that some dog foods can also contain high amounts of iodine,
together with high fluoride content(13), poses an additional threat to the
thyroid gland (14).
Utmost disturbing is the fact that fluorides continue to be promoted as an
"essential nutrient" in animal feed when no such evidence exists. The FDA
considers fluoride as an "unapproved" new drug, yet does nothing to address
the high amount of fluoride in animal feed, the regulation of which is part
of its mandate. The Salt Institute writes that fluoride in animal feed is
needed for growth and anemia prevention. (15) That exactly the opposite has
been demonstrated in cattle studies seems of no concern. Hillman et al.(16)
showed that cattle afflicted with fluorosis developed hypothyroidism,
anemia, and eosinophilia of leukocytes. Already in 1934 studies done by
Chang et al. on the effects of mixing fluorine-containing phosphate in
cowfeed showed comparable data.(17) Many more studies can be found within
the last 80 years.
We have compiled over 150 symptoms and associations of hypothyroidism, all
of which directly correlate with symptoms/associations found in literature
documenting fluoride poisoning, at:
COMPARISON OF SYMPTOMS:FLUORIDE POISONING/HYPOTHYROIDISM
http://www.bruha.com/fluoride/html/symptoms_hypo_f.htm
We urge you to consider the role of fluorides in hypothyroidism in dogs,
and hereby hope that pressure will be applied by you and other similar
groups in getting the FDA and AAFCO to re-evaluate the incredible
fraudulent standards set for fluorides in animal feed.
P.S.:OSTEOSARCOMA:
In 1998 Langenbach reviewed 169 cases of osteosarcomas on dogs.(18)
Senior Toxicologist William Marcus of the EPA states that fluorides are the
only compound known - including radioactive compounds - to induce
osteosarcomas in rodents.(19)
In 1996 the New Jersey Department of Health discovered a 6.9 increase in
osteosarcomas in young males who live in a fluoridated area.(20)
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References:
1a)Galetti, PM;Joyet, G - "Effect of Fluorine On Thyroidal Iodine
Metabolism in
Hyperthyroidism" J Clin Endocrinol 18:1102-1110 (1958)
b)Gorlitzer von Mundy - "Einfluss von Fluor und Jod auf den Stoffwechsel,
insbesondere auf die SchilddrŸse" MŸnch Med Wochenschrift 105:234-247 (1963)
c)Gordonoff, T. - Fluor und die SchilddrŸse, Toxikology des Fluors
Basel/Stuttgart (1964)
d)May, W - "Antagonismus zwischen Jod und Fluor im Organismus" Klin
Wochenschr 14:790-792 (1935)
e)May, W - "Behandlung der Hypothyreosen einschlie§lich des schweren
genuinen Morbus Basedow mit Fluor" Klin Wochenschr 16:562-564 (1937)
2)Marks TA, Schellenberg D, Metzler CM, Oostveen J, Morey MJ - "Effect of
dog food containing 460 ppm fluoride on rat reproduction"J Toxicol Environ
Health 14(5-6):707-14 (1984)
3)Schellenberg D, Marks TA, Metzler CM, Oostveen JA, Morey MJ -"Lack of
effect of fluoride on reproductive performance and development in Shetland
sheepdogs"
Vet Hum Toxicol 32(4):309-14 (1990)
Published erratum appears in Vet Hum Toxicol 32(6):527 (1990)
Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Upjohn Company, Kalamazoo, MI.
4)Thompson DJ - "Industrial considerations related to fluoride toxicity" J
Anim Sci 51(3):767-72 (1980)
5)Bobek S, Kahl S,Ewy Z -"Effect of Long Term Fluoride Administration on
Thyroid Hormone Levels in Rats" Endocrinol Exp (Bratisl)10:289-295 (1976)
6)Maylin GA, Eckerlin RH, Krook L - "Fluoride intoxication in dairy
calves." Cornell Vet 77(1):84-98(1987)
7)Hoffman DJ, Pattee OH, Wiemeyer SN - "Effects of fluoride on screech owl
reproduction: teratological evaluation, growth, and blood chemistry in
hatchlings."Toxicol Lett 26(1):19-24 (1985)
8)Eckerlin RH, Krook L, Maylin GA, Carmichael D -
"Toxic effects of food-borne fluoride in silver foxes" Cornell Vet 1986
Oct;76(4):395-402
9)Schultheiss WA, Godley GA - "Chronic fluorosis in cattle due to the
ingestion of a commercial lick" J S Afr Vet Assoc 66(2):83-4 (1995)
10)Tomas James Rees - The Toxicology of Male Reproduction, Literature
Review in Applied Toxicology, Portsmouth University, February 1993
11)Suheela, AK; Jethanandani, P -"Circulating Testosterone Levels is
skeletal Fluorosis patients" J Tox Clin Tox 34(2):187-189 (1996)
12)Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
http://www.gov.on.ca/OMAFRA/english/livestock/sheep/facts/minernut.htm
13)Mumma RO, Rashid KA, Shane BS, Scarlett-Kranz JM, Hotchkiss JH, Eckerlin
RH, Maylin GA, Lee CY, Rutzke M, Gutenmann WH, et al - "Toxic and
protective constituents in pet foods" Am J Vet Res 47(7):1633-7 (1986)
14)Zhao W, Zhu H, Yu Z, Aoki K, Misumi J, Zhang X -"Long-term Effects of
Various Iodine and Fluorine Doses on the Thyroid and Fluorosis in Mice"
Endocr Regul 32(2):63-70 (1998)
15) Salt Institute: Salt and Trace Minerals in Animal Nutrition and Agriculture
http://www.saltinstitute.org/25.html
Animal feed is a major market for salt. In the 1998 calendar year revenue
was $86,684,000 for 1,739 tons supplied
Salt used for water conditioning amounted to sales income of $285,642,000
for 2,986 tons.
16)Hillman, D; Bolenbaugh, D.L.; Convey, E.M. - "Hypothyroidism and anemia
related to fluoride in dairy cattle" J Dairy Sci Mar;62(3):416-23 (1979)
17)Chang, C.Y.; Phillips, P.H.; Hart, E.B. - "The Effect Of Feeding Raw Rock
Phosphate On The Fluorine Content Of The Organs And Tissues Of Dairy Cows"
J Dairy Science 17:695-700 (1934)
18)Langenbach A, et al.- "Extraskeletal osteosarcomas in dogs: a
retrospective study of 169 cases (1986-1996)." J Am Anim Hosp Assoc.
34(2):113-20 (1998)
19)Marcus, W.L. - "Facts for Fluoridationists", Earth Island Journal
Special Report:Fluorides And The Environment (1998)
see also: Letter By William L. Marcus, Ph.D (1995)
http://www.rvi.net/~fluoride/marcus.htm
20)Cohn, P.D -"A brief report on the association of drinking water
fluoridation and the incidence of osteosarcoma among young males"
New Jersey Department of Health (1992).
Subject: Re: Hypothyroidism in Dogs
Hello all,
This E-mail was posted with the authors permission