LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

If In Doubt, Leave It Out!

I thought we were safe in Hernando County, until I read the article regarding the debate in Brooksville concerning a vote to cease adding fluoride to the city's water supply.

Consider the following:

"Fluoridation is the greatest case of scientific fraud of this century." - Robert Carlton, Ph.D., former EPA scientist, 1992.

"Regarding fluoridation, the EPA should act immediately to protect the public. Not just on the cancer data, but on the evidence of bone fractures, arthritis, mutagenicity and other effects." - William Marcus, PhD., senior EPA toxicologist, 1992.

Dr. Russell Blaylock, board certified neurosurgeon and clinical assistant professor of neurosurgery at the Medical University of Mississippi says: "Fluoride . . .

•Causes dental fluorosis.

Damages DNA repair enzymes.

Increases risk for osteoporosis.

Causes genetic damage.

Causes skeletal fluorosis.

Causes abnormal brain development.

Causes hypothyroidism.

Reduces fertility in males.

Dr. Ted Broer, licensed nutritionist, health and nutrition expert and author, says:

"After Congress mandated the tests, the National Toxicology Group found that some of the rarest sarcomas (cancers) in existence were caused by the ingestion of fluoride. If you look at a poison index, you will discover that fluoride is considered more toxic than lead and only slightly less toxic than arsenic!"

The metallic form of fluoride is a by-product of aluminum production.

Fluoride is extremely poisonous, and is a problem carcinogen.

Eliminating fluoride is not going to mean more customers for Brooksville's dentists, but instead less patients for local oncologists. Even if you don't believe in the harmful effects of fluoridation, where is the proof that it prevents cavities? Is it worth the risk?

For the past several years, I have been willing to pay more at local health stores for fluoride-free toothpaste as well as aluminum-free deodorant. What about the residents who don't want to be medicated against their will with toxic chemicals in their water? Kudos to Councilwoman Lara Bradburn for recommending that Brooksville stop adding fluoride on the city's water supply.

Fran Munoz

Spring Hill

City Council Should

Reconsider Fluoride

I read your article about the Brooksville City Council position on fluoride with great interest. We fought hard in the 1980s to get fluoride in the city water supply, and it was a great public service.

I was quite amused at Councilwoman Lara Bradburn's comment that the American Dental Association said using fluoride toothpaste was enough. I have been a member of the American Dental Association for 30 years and have received position papers on every conceivable dental topic during that time. I have never heard that using fluoride toothpaste alone was adequate in preventing tooth decay. I wonder where Ms. Bradburn got her information? Every study I have seen strongly supports fluoridating public water supplies.

My associate, Dr. Linda Barry, who is the current president of the Hernando County Dental Association, has contacted the Hernando County Health Department and the Florida Dental Association. Together, they will be contacting the Brooksville City Council stating the strong support of fluoridated water by the dental and public health communities.

More than 170 million people in the U.S are now drinking fluoridated water. Fluoride is a mineral that occurs naturally in the water supplies of some areas of the country. It is not a "poison." Many studies during the last 50 years have confirmed that a fluoride concentration of approximately one part per million in the drinking water will significantly reduce tooth decay. This is especially effective in children and teenagers who tend to have higher decay rates than older adults.

It is our sincere hope that the Brooksville City Council will reconsider its decision to remove fluoride from our drinking water.

William B. Holbrook, DMD

Brooksville

Property Taxes Should

Drop Like Rock, Not Climb

Thank you for your informative article, "Property Tax Notices Go Out," in the Aug. 21 edition of Hernando Today. I received my TRIM notice the other day, and was also very angry, as was the resident, David Miesch, that you quoted in your article.

I am also perplexed by my estimate of taxes for 2008. I thought Amendment 1 would reduce my taxes.

But, my taxes are proposed to go up! With the new $50,000 homestead exemption and falling property values, taxes should be lower, not higher.

We live in an upscale, deed restricted subdivision here in Spring Hill, and have had our house up for sale for almost a year. In all that time only two people have even looked at our home. They loved the house and neighborhood, but did not make an offer. With the plethora of houses in foreclosure and others being sold for ridiculously low prices, you can't get a fair price for your home in Hernando County.

Property values in this county are in the toilet, yet our esteemed county property appraiser, Alvin Mazourek, has found ways to raise the value of our homes?! It's time for some new thinking in the county property appraiser's office. A little history lesson, Mr. Mazourek: This country was started with a little revolution because we didn't like to be unfairly taxed.

And, please don't write a letter to the newspaper, as you usually do when someone complains about your appraisal policy. We don't want to hear anymore of your "mumbo jumbo" or convoluted reasoning for how you determine property values. It's a simple equation: The homestead exemption was doubled and property values have plummeted in the county. So then should our taxes.

Russ Colombo

Spring Hill