Today's Date: September 21, 2023
Dominican President Addresses UN to Defend His Nation’s Measures Against Haiti’s Illegal Canal Construction Project   •   Sean "Diddy" Combs Applauds Black Leaders' Commitment to Defending Democracy, Driving Corporate Diversity at Congressional Black   •   COSMOSS Partners With Chopra Foundation 'Never Alone' to Support Mental Health Awareness   •   Lieutenant General, U.S. Army (Retired) Francis M. Beaudette Named Ambassador at PenFed Foundation   •   QuidelOrtho Receives CLIA Waiver for Sofia® 2 SARS Antigen+ FIA   •   Métis Citizens elect new president in first election for new Otipemisiwak Métis Government   •   TinySuperheroes Celebrates Its 10th Anniversary Outfitting Courageous Kids With Superhero Capes As They Battle Illnesses and Dis   •   Métis Nation within Alberta Citizens elect new President and Citizens' Council, formally becoming the Otipemisiwak M&eacu   •   UNITE HERE Local 11: Laguna Cliffs Hospitality Workers Rally at UC Regents Meeting in Los Angeles   •   Sen. Bernie Sanders Addresses Critical Shortage of Black Physicians at the NMA's Professional Development Series   •   Valent BioSciences Announces Construction of New Oregon Facility   •   Revry and Discover Present The 8th Annual Queer X Awards on National Coming Out Day   •   Grant Funding Aims to Improve Safety & Security in New Mexico Schools   •   Church of the Highlands Opens New Huntsville Campus Location   •   Orion S.A. Declares Interim Quarterly Dividend   •   Mattel Publishes Latest Citizenship Report Presenting 2022 Progress on ESG Strategy and Goals   •   Young Travel & Cruises Educational Seminars Offer Upstate SC Travel Enthusiasts a Chance to Learn about Land, River and Sea   •   Five Cities Join Sunstone Economic Development Challenge @ USC Price   •   LeadingAge And Ziegler Release 20th Annual LeadingAge Ziegler LZ 200 Report   •   Sendero Health Plans Names Sharon Alvis as Next Chief Executive
Bookmark and Share

Black Pastors Speak Out Against Fluoride In Water

MEMPHIS - Rev. William Owens, President of the Coalition of African American Pastors, is joining a growing chorus of leaders calling for federal and state hearings and investigations into new revelations about risks from drinking fluoridated water.

Owens wants to know why important fluoride information wasn't shared with African American leaders and citizens, and is especially concerned about fluoride impacts on poor and inner city families.

"There are so many issues that need to be addressed in Fluoridegate investigations," he states. "This is very disturbing."

"Why wasn't the black community told that blacks are disproportionately impacted by harm from fluorides and fluoridated water? Nobody told me until I learned about this a year ago. African Americans have more kidney disease and more diabetes, but nobody elected to tell us that kidney patients and diabetics are more susceptible to harm from ingested fluorides."

In 2006 the National Research Council published a report that listed diabetics, kidney patients, babies and children, seniors, and outdoor workers as "susceptible subpopulations" that are especially vulnerable to harm from fluorides.

Owens also wants to know why the Centers for Disease Control didn't issue a press release when it changed its stance about mixing baby formula with fluoridated water after the NRC report was issued.

Shortly after the NRC report was published the CDC posted deep inside its website a statement about children potentially developing permanent staining of teeth called "dental fluorosis" if fluoridated water is used to mix baby formula.

"Do you know how many millions of moms and dads are going to their kitchen sink every day to get water for baby formula? This affects a lot of people. Why no press release?" he asks.

"What are poor families to do if they can't afford unfluoridated water? How are they to learn the information about fluorosis? How are they to pay to repair the stains on their teeth?"

"What about the kidney risks and concerns about IQ impacts?" he continues. "Does the Center for Disease Control really think that fluorides miraculously only affect teeth in the mouth and don't impact the rest of the body?"

Owens is an outspoken advocate for assisting children in their education and is concerned about reports of IQ impacts from children ingesting fluorides.
A recent study published in Environmental Health Perspectives, a publication of the National Institute for Environmental Health Sciences, documented diminished IQ in children from fluorides in water.

In 2009 a study in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry noted that black children ingest significantly more fluorides than white children.
The 2006 NRC report included a statement that, "More research is needed to clarify fluoride's biochemical effects on the brain."

CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published data in 2005 showing that blacks have significantly more of the worst forms of dental fluorosis than whites. Owens wants to know why African Americans leaders weren't openly given this and other important information.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed somewhat reducing the level of fluoride in water in a statement on January 7, 2011.
The HHS actions don't go far enough, according to Rev. Owens, citing the issue that some people drink dramatically more water than others, have medical susceptibilities to fluorides, and have numerous other uncontrolled sources of fluoride in their diet.

"We need to investigate this Fluoridegate mess. This is a civil rights and environmental justice issue. We don't need just a little less fluoride in water. Fluoridation needs to end," he says firmly. 


STORY TAGS: BLACK NEWS, AFRICAN AMERICAN NEWS, MINORITY NEWS, CIVIL RIGHTS NEWS, DISCRIMINATION, RACISM, RACIAL EQUALITY, BIAS, EQUALITY, AFRO AMERICAN NEWS

Video

White House Live Stream
LIVE VIDEO EVERY SATURDAY
alsharpton Rev. Al Sharpton
9 to 11 am EST
jjackson Rev. Jesse Jackson
10 to noon CST


Video

LIVE BROADCASTS
Sounds Make the News ®
WAOK-Urban
Atlanta - WAOK-Urban
KPFA-Progressive
Berkley / San Francisco - KPFA-Progressive
WVON-Urban
Chicago - WVON-Urban
KJLH - Urban
Los Angeles - KJLH - Urban
WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
New York - WKDM-Mandarin Chinese
WADO-Spanish
New York - WADO-Spanish
WBAI - Progressive
New York - WBAI - Progressive
WOL-Urban
Washington - WOL-Urban

Listen to United Natiosns News