4 ms·

Lead, mercury, fluoride. Other cumulative neurotoxins. It seems obvious to me that we should work to eliminate anything which damages our brains, whether or not

Lead, mercury, fluoride. Other cumulative neurotoxins. It seems obvious to me that we should work to eliminate anything which damages our brains, whether or not we can test yet for effects.

jorts 9y ago
Fluoride? Please explain how that damages the human brain.
- yorwba 9y ago
  "Some research has suggested that high levels of fluoride exposure may adversely affect neurodevelopment in children, but the evidence is of insufficient quality to allow any firm conclusions to be drawn."[1] Even though the research on the effects on the brain is inconclusive, you probably should avoid ingesting too much fluoride to avoid skeletal fluorosis. And if you take a large dose of several grams, it drains your blood of calcium, which the nervous system really doesn't like. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoride_toxicity#Brain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoride_toxicity#Brain
  - briandear 9y ago
    It is interesting how those that disagree that man causes climate change are martinalized due to “scientific consensus” but when an even more overwhelming consensus exists around fluoridation, you have counties banning fluoridation without much public outcry.
- _emacsomancer_ 9y ago
  Fluoride is a foreign substance which is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual, and certainly without any choice.
  - jamiepenney 9y ago
    Are you making a Dr Strangelove joke or actually serious?
    - grzm 9y ago
      "It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? ... That's the way a hard-core commie works." (It's a near direct quote from the film.)
    - _emacsomancer_ 9y ago
      I'm hoping the phrase "precious bodily fluids" makes it obvious.
- mc32 9y ago
  Netherlands, Japan, USSR/Russia, among others have stopped water fluoridation[1]. US Doctors, in my experience, want to ensure you drink fluoridated water, on the other hand (drink tap water!) [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation_controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation_controversy
- truculation 9y ago
  I'd rather not try -- there's scientific controversy and the explanations on both sides (that I've seen) are low quality. So people are reduced to 'weighing evidence', which is irrational. Part of the problem of course is politics. Dental health and vaccination are both very important good things and this makes it even harder to determine the truth of the matter. For example, people regularly exclaim things like 'there's absolutely no evidence that X', or 'there's overwhelming evidence that Y'. But they do this rhetorically, and as I said, without associated explanations. In such circumstances 'evidence' isn't always meaningful. Hence my original point. Since we don't yet understand how the brain and the mind work (if we did, we'd have AGI) we're not in a position to assess damaging effects, if any, which may be subtle. If this was any other organ, I'd say let it go. But the brain is the seat of the mind and is therefore uniquely precious.
t3chn0SchO0lbus 9y ago
"fluoride"?

Lead, mercury, fluoride. Other cumulative neurotoxins. It seems obvious to me that we should work to eliminate anything which damages our brains, whether or not we can test yet for effects.

jorts 9y ago

Fluoride? Please explain how that damages the human brain.

yorwba 9y ago
"Some research has suggested that high levels of fluoride exposure may adversely affect neurodevelopment in children, but the evidence is of insufficient quality to allow any firm conclusions to be drawn."[1] Even though the research on the effects on the brain is inconclusive, you probably should avoid ingesting too much fluoride to avoid skeletal fluorosis. And if you take a large dose of several grams, it drains your blood of calcium, which the nervous system really doesn't like. [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoride_toxicity#Brain https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluoride_toxicity#Brain
- briandear 9y ago
  It is interesting how those that disagree that man causes climate change are martinalized due to “scientific consensus” but when an even more overwhelming consensus exists around fluoridation, you have counties banning fluoridation without much public outcry.
_emacsomancer_ 9y ago
Fluoride is a foreign substance which is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual, and certainly without any choice.
- jamiepenney 9y ago
  Are you making a Dr Strangelove joke or actually serious?
  - grzm 9y ago
    "It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? ... That's the way a hard-core commie works." (It's a near direct quote from the film.)
  - _emacsomancer_ 9y ago
    I'm hoping the phrase "precious bodily fluids" makes it obvious.
mc32 9y ago
Netherlands, Japan, USSR/Russia, among others have stopped water fluoridation[1]. US Doctors, in my experience, want to ensure you drink fluoridated water, on the other hand (drink tap water!) [1]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation_controversy https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation_controversy
truculation 9y ago
I'd rather not try -- there's scientific controversy and the explanations on both sides (that I've seen) are low quality. So people are reduced to 'weighing evidence', which is irrational. Part of the problem of course is politics. Dental health and vaccination are both very important good things and this makes it even harder to determine the truth of the matter. For example, people regularly exclaim things like 'there's absolutely no evidence that X', or 'there's overwhelming evidence that Y'. But they do this rhetorically, and as I said, without associated explanations. In such circumstances 'evidence' isn't always meaningful. Hence my original point. Since we don't yet understand how the brain and the mind work (if we did, we'd have AGI) we're not in a position to assess damaging effects, if any, which may be subtle. If this was any other organ, I'd say let it go. But the brain is the seat of the mind and is therefore uniquely precious.

t3chn0SchO0lbus 9y ago

"fluoride"?