As one of the authors of the opinion piece headlined “End Fluoridation” (Herald, June 26), I will address some misconceptions about the sodium fluoride we use for fluoridation in Durango.

The fluoride we use in Durango is derived from the smokestack scrubbers of the fertilizer industry, containing traces of arsenic, mercury, lead and radon. In liquid form, it’s hydroflurosilicic acid. It is then converted to sodium fluoride by adding sodium carbonate or soda ash. The precipitate becomes sodium fluoride.

Sodium fluoride is a toxic poison that has never been tested for human consumption. Americans have been using sodium fluoride since the 1900s, but for other purposes, mainly as a roach killer, an insecticide and as rat poison. That’s right, we add rat poison to our city water!

Fluoridation levels currently in the city of Durango are at 0.7 milligram per liter. Before that, it was between 1.0 and 1.2mg/L. Last year, the Center for Disease Control recognized that dental fluorosis is rampant (41 percent of all children in the U.S.), indicating fluoride toxicity, so it lowered the recommended dosage.

The maximum level established by the CDC is 4 mg/L. Bone fractures occur at this level. Read the Fodd and Drug Administration’s sodium fluoride warning on your toothpaste: “Keep out of reach of children under 6 years old. If more than a pea size portion is swallowed contact the poison control center immediately.” Some children swallow more fluoride in one brushing than is recommended from all other daily sources combined. Per dose, toothpaste contains 0.25 to 1.0 mg. of fluoride; mouth rinses 230 mg/L; self-administered fluoride gels 5,000 mg/L; professionally applied fluoride gels 12,300 mg/L.

Most pharmaceutical drugs also contain fluoride fillers. The beer we drink and the food we eat all contains fluoride. The negative effects of fluoride accumulate in the body over time, as we only eliminate 25 percent to 50 percent. We are all over-consumers of fluoride.

Think about it! All in the name of tooth decay. The real question is: Are we willing to put lives in danger to uphold an idea whose time has long passed?

James Forleo

Durango