Secretary Sebelius gave notice in the January 13, 2011 Federal Register (pages 2383-86) that 41% of all people in the U.S. who were 12 to 15 years old between 1999 and 2004 have dental fluorosis from ingesting too much fluoride, primarily from drinking fluoridated water and swallowing fluoridated toothpaste, both occurring before they were 9 years old.

Dental fluorosis results in lacy white marking on teeth in milder cases and brown stains and pitted, crumbly teeth in moderate to severe cases. Secretary Sebelius states that 3.6% (or 1 in 27) of all people in that age group in the U.S. have moderate to severe dental fluorosis. Many experts state that dental fluorosis is a sign of fluoride poisoning.

The alleged benefit of fluoridated water is that it helps prevent the disease of tooth decay. But strong evidence shows that tooth decay has decreased over the last 30 years in unfluoridated countries like Denmark and Germany in the same manner that it has decreased in fluoridated countries like the U.S. and Australia. This is convincing evidence that water fluoridation is not a significant cause of the reduction of tooth decay in the world. Many prominent experts state that fluoridation products are not "safe and effective" to aid in the prevention of tooth decay.

U.S. statutes require substances intended to aid in prevention of disease to be classified as drugs. Therefore, fluoridation products are drugs. HHS and FDA have the responsibility to regulate drugs in the U.S. Yet neither has taken any action to regulate fluoridation products as drugs. This is true despite the fact that 2/3 of the people in the U.S. are being given these drugs through public drinking water. Generally people are given this medication without their permission.

Please Sign This Petition: http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_Water_Fluoridation/?eqTIiab