Earth Month is over for another year -- how did I do this past year?
Just wanted to write down my eco-improvements over the last year. I still have quite a way to go, but I've also come a long way. Here are the green things I've done from April 2007 to April 2008:
- Got my daughter in a daycare close to home and started walking 4-5 days a week to work (a bad winter with a couple of falls on unshovelled sidewalks had me taking Trax through much of the winter).
- My husband and I bought large hooks which he installed on our bathroom wall. There's one for each of us, and we each get one towel to use for the whole week. It's helped us cut back on laundry.
- Bought a bike, helmet and lock and will be using it shortly.
- Helped lead a book group that explored the environmental impacts of our food choices, which has helped inspire me to eat more vegan meals (I've been a lacto-ovo vegetarian for 13 and a half years).
- Have a complete set of reusable grocery bags and have been making improvements on remembering to use them.
- Made a concerted effort to wear items of clothing (with the exception of underwear and socks) at least twice before putting it in the wash.
- Purchased our first ever CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) share and will be picking up a friend's CSA share as well this summer to save car trips.
- Purchased and have been using a stainless steel drinking bottle, and despite my fears of over-fluoridation have been drinking more tap water. (Gotta save up for a purifier that takes the fluoride out . . .)
I would love to find a purifier that takes out the flouride! Let me know what you find!
(Anonymous)
Fluoride is Ruining Kids Teeth
“Such changes in the tooth’s appearance can affect the child’s self-esteem which makes early prevention that much more critical,” writes Dincer.
Children, aged 2 to 7 years, can swallow about one-quarter milligram of fluoride with every brushing because their swallowing reflexes are not fully developed, reports Dincer.
“Children from the age of 6-months to 3-years should not have more than one-quarter milligram of fluoride per day. Brushing the teeth of a 2-year-old twice a day will expose the child to about one-half milligram, exceeding the allowable [daily] limits” [from toothpaste alone], writes Dincer.
Intentionally swallowing the toothpaste which is likely, given the pleasant flavor of children’s toothpaste, increases children’s fluorosis risk, Dincer reports.
Fluoridated water, supplements, mouth rinses and/or foods add to daily fluoride intake.
Up to 48% of children have fluorosis, with 4% moderate/severe (yellow/brown teeth), reports the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) (2). Fluoride over-exposure at ages 22- to 25-months can discolor the permanent two front teeth while they form under the gums.
Two-thirds of US water suppliers add fluoride chemicals to reduce tooth decay. This fluoridated water is used to make many foods and beverages. (3) “Water and processed beverages (e.g., soft drinks and fruit juices) can provide approximately 75% of a person's fluoride intake,” according to the CDC. (4)
Mixing infant formula with fluoridated water (5), fluoride supplements (6) and foods with naturally higher fluoride levels, such as tea and ocean fish, independently increase risk of dental fluorosis. Fluoride-containing pesticide residues remain on various foods. Fluoride is also inhaled via ocean and shower mist and is in some medicines.
The adequate intake of fluoride from ALL sources to avoid moderate fluorosis (not mild white spots) according to the National Academies of Science (9) is
-- 0.01 mg/day for 0 to 6-month-olds
-- 0.5 mg/day for 7 through 12 months
-- 0.7 mg/day for 1 to 3-year-olds
Why isn't this information reaching the public?
In 2000, dental researcher AK Mascarenhas wrote, “There is substantial evidence that fluoridated water, fluoride supplements, infant formulas, and fluoride toothpastes are risk factors for fluorosis,” alone and together in “Risk factors for Dental Fluorosis: A review of the recent literature,” in Pediatric Dentistry, 4/22/2000.
Mascarenhas censored our news release which broadcasted her tax-payer supported research to the American public by successfully requesting Ascribe news service to deny our business. We have seen little evidence that organized dentistry or federal health officials passing all this information to the public.
“It’s obvious that fluoridation is dosing our children with uncontrollable and undesirable amounts of fluoride,” says attorney Paul Beeber, President, New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. “Besides affecting teeth, fluoride can be hazardous to your general health,” he says. "Since fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy teeth and no child is, or ever was, fluoride deficient, it's time we stop adding unnecessary and costly fluoride chemicals into water supplies," says Beeber.
Over 1600 professionals joined Environmental Protection Agency scientists in calling for an end to fluoridation. (7) Join the over 11,000 individuals supporting them by signing the petition asking for a Congressional investigation at
http://congress.FluorideAction.Net or http://www.FluorideAction.Net
References:http://tinyurl.com/6p2eqn
(Anonymous)
Re: Fluoride is Ruining Kids Teeth
Before we had fluoridated water, our pediatrician recommended fluoride drops, which my baby promptly threw up, so he was unfluoridated for the first year or two. Once the water was fluoridated, the doctor said to make sure NOT to give fluoride drops.
I think there are some major pros to having the water fluoridated, but I am concerned about how much my kids are getting. I think I may look into fluoride free toothpaste for my older kids too.
(Anonymous)
Re: Fluoride is Ruining Kids Teeth
Allie
http://isagoodone.blogspot.com