As Trump administration eases EPA regulations, Houston could pay a price
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-administration-eases-epa-regulations-houston-could-pay-a-price/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub
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As Trump administration eases EPA regulations, Houston could pay a price
In April, the Trump administration gave 68 plants a two-year exemption from complying with federal regulations intended to lower mercury emissions, a powerful toxin that can affect the brain.David Schechter (CBS News)
Nanook
in reply to CBS News • — (Shoreline, WA, USA) •@CBS News Although if one really wants fluoride for their teeth they can go to a dentist and get fluoride treatments or they can buy a fluoridated toothpaste. The toothpaste companies will be glad to sell you pulp-mill waste if they can't dump it in city reservoirs. Per Google, and they are conservative and usually happy to allow you to be poisoned, these are some problems fluoride can cause.
1. Fluorosis:
Dental Fluorosis: Occurs when children are exposed to high concentrations of fluoride while their teeth are still developing. This can lead to discoloration, white spots, streaks, or even pitting and enamel damage, but generally doesn't affect the health or function of the teeth. Severe dental fluorosis is rare in the U.S. and is not caused by the recommended levels of fluoride in public tap water.
Skeletal Fluorosis: A bone disease resulting from long-term exposure to high levels of fluoride, leading to pain, stiffness, bone deformities, and an increased risk of fractures. It can cause bones to become hardened and less elastic, and in severe cases, crippling skeletal fluorosis can result in calcification of ligaments and joint immobility. Skeletal fluorosis is extremely rare in the United States and is not caused by standard amounts of fluoride in public water.
Non-skeletal Fluorosis: An early stage of skeletal fluorosis affecting the gastrointestinal tract, causing symptoms like abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, bloating, or loss of appetite.
2. Neurological Issues:
Potential link to lower IQ in children: Some studies suggest that high fluoride exposure in pregnancy or early life could be linked to lower IQ or behavioral issues in children. However, research results are mixed, and most experts believe the evidence is weak, with no link found between normal fluoride levels in U.S. tap water (0.7 mg/L) and lower IQ. The Yale School of Public Health also mentions that recent research observed these negative effects at fluoride levels that were more than double the amounts recommended for U.S. community water fluoridation programs.
3. Thyroid Problems:
Possible effect on the parathyroid gland: In some cases, excessive fluoride may affect the parathyroid gland, potentially leading to hyperparathyroidism, which can weaken bone structure.
Potential interference with thyroid hormone production: Fluoride may interfere with iodine's ability to produce thyroid hormones, potentially leading to hypothyroidism. Studies show that fluoride may take up iodine receptor sites in the thyroid gland, potentially causing iodine deficiency.
4. Other potential problems:
Acute toxicity: Ingesting large amounts of fluoride in a short period can lead to abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, seizures, and other severe reactions.
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