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Mandatory flouridation Editor: New government regulations have been set to try to keep farm pesticides out of our drinking water, but agricultural runoffis just one of many problems plaguing our nation's water supply. Therefore it was foolhardy for the Illinois legislature to make water flouridation mandatory throughout the state in view of the long-standing controversy about its safety and efficacy. Following is an excerpt from a statement released by a scientist at the Environmental Toxicology Center, University of Wisconsin at Madison: "... Limits on permissible concentrations of pesticides have been set in parts per billion/trillion range for some compounds. Paradoxically, since 1950, many communities in the USA have been intentionally adding other pesticides — sodium flouride or fluo-silicates, at levels of 0.7-1.2 parts per million to drinking water. Allegedly, such levels have beneficial effects on reducing dental caries and have no known adverse human/environmental health effects. . . . The incidence of dental caries is decreasing worldwide regardless of inclusion of fluorides in drinking water or dental care compounds. Evidence is surfacing that the research supporting earlier claims of benefits was manipulated, while evidence of adverse health effects was either not accumulated or was suppressed...." Such reports have been accumulating for 6/August & September 1992/Illinois Issues many years from around the world. Nevertheless, dental agencies continue to promote fluoridation with religious fervor, assuming an air of infallibility which is inconsistent with scientific integrity and responsibility. (They are even pressuring the Post Office to issue a fluoridation stamp!) It is called "the greatest health boon in history." This has as much validity as Old Gold's "Not a cough in a carload" of a generation ago. Fluoride is a prescription drug with known side effects. It is preposterous and dangerous for it to be prescribed en masse by the legislature and dispensed to everyone by the water company. Certainly this violates medical and pharmaceutical law, ethics and practice. Fluoridation is neither good medicine nor good sense. Myrtle K. Sapora Champaign Vachel Lindsay and Lake Springfield Editor: I have just finished the article in the July 1992 issue of Illinois Issues by Robert Bray on the Vachel Lindsay quarrel with Springfield. I thoroughly enjoyed the article and have received a new insight into the life of Vachel Lindsay. I also feel Vachel Lindsay is too often ignored in Springfield. It is also a shame that the Lindsay house is not open more often to the public. I have found an inconsistency in the article about the feelings of Vachel Lindsay "effusing over the wonder of the city's new man made lake." Since Vachel Lindsay died on December 5, 1931, I do not understand feelings over a lake which had not yet been in existence. The following is a chronology of the time for the formation and development of Lake Springfield.
1. Land acquisition (1930-1932).
Readers: Your comments on articles and columns are welcome. Please keep letters brief (250 words); we reserve the right to excerpt them so as many as space allows can be published. Send your letters to:
Caroline Gherardini, Editor
August & September 1992/Illinois Issues/7 |
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