Fluoride-bone cancer denialist’s study fails

Media Release

Wellington NZ, 8 August 2011

Fluoride-bone cancer denialist’s study fails

Five years after being promised to disprove the link between fluoride and osteosarcoma bone cancer, the promised study has finally been published, failing in its promise, as predicted by international fluoride experts. The study only looked at bone-fluoride level at the time of osteosarcoma, which is irrelevant to age-related exposure effect shown in the earlier research it was supposed to disprove. It just shows total lifetime exposure to fluoride; not whether it occurred during the critical 6-8 year old period, shown by the earlier research.

“Fluoridation promoters have been relying on this failed promise ever since 2006, to defend continued fluoridation in spite of the risk. What will they rely on now?” asks Mary Byrne, National Coordinator of Fluoride Action Network. “Why, spinning Douglass’ study as if it were valid of course. They have already started – what else can they do? If they admit Douglass failed, they must admit that fluoridation should end immediately” answers Ms Byrne.

Osteosarcoma kills between 3 and 4 NZ male youths each year. Legal action against councils and fluoridation promoters began being prepared in the USA as soon as Bassin’s 2001 study was discovered in 2006, having been suppressed for four years. “Publication of Douglass’ failed study now opens the doorway for such action” suggests Mark Atkin, FANNZ’ legal adviser.

“Now that Douglass' study is finally published, it is clearly incapable of refuting Bassin's work” according to FAN director, Dr Paul Connett, Ph.D. "Bassin's study was a high quality product; Douglass' study was not" he concludes. “And it was only published in a dental journal, published by fluoridation promoters The International Association of Dental Research – why not in Cancer Causes and Control like his original promise, and Bassin’s study? Would it not have passed objective peer-review?” adds Ms Byrne.

ABOUT FLUORIDE ACTION NETWORK:

Fluoride Action Network (NZ) Inc. (FANNZ) is the leading expert body on fluoridation science in New Zealand, and a founding member of the Fluoridation-free NZ Coalition, an alliance of national health-focused organisations launched in 2009 to take national action to end water fluoridation. For more information, visit www.fannz.org.nz.

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