"Water Fluoridation is the controlled addition of fluoride to a public water supply to reduce tooth decay", according to wikipedia.org. Fluoride happens to be the chemical compound that we find in our toothpaste, processed foods and in our public water supply. Fluoridation became an official policy of the U.S. Public Health Service in 1951 and by 1960, water fluoridation had became widely used in the United States, reaching about 50 million people. According Dr. Joseph Mercola, "If fluoride is really the panacea for dental disease that it's been portrayed as, then why is that the United States is one of the only developed countries that fluoridates their citizen's drinking water?" Dr. Mercola continues to say, "It's not because the other countries aren't aware of fluoride's supposed 'miracle' powers for your teeth..it's because they fully realize that adding a known poison to your population's water supply is probably not a good idea."

Obviously, fluoride isn't the beneficial product that citizens of the United States have been led to believe. Naturally, many people trust in their government and don't believe a chemical that is harmful to people would be distributed into the general population. However, it's one thing to be unaware of the poison you are putting into your body, but it's completely different to be aware of this poison and not take action. According to mercola.com, "Many assume consuming fluoride is only an issue that involves your dental health." But according to a 500 scientific page review, fluoride is an endocrine disruptor that can affect your bones, brain, thyroid gland, pineal gland and even your blood sugar levels.

So a chemical compound that was just intended to prevent tooth decay has many extremely harsh side effects. I remember when I was a kid, my mother always told me not to ever swallow toothpaste because I could get very sick. Back then, I didn't understand the consequences with consuming fluoride.

The Fluoride Action Network (FAN) reported: "Fluorosilicic acid is the most contaminated chemical added to public water supplies, and many impose additional risks to those presented by natural fluorides. These risks include a possible cancer hazard from the acid's elevated arsenic content and a possible neurotoxic hazard from the acid's ability -under some conditions -to increase the erosion of lead from old pipes." So fluorosilicic acid can certainly be labeled a great treat to humankind. Simply put, this chemical can lead to cancer and provides toxins to the brain. The question is, why is something so harmful still in our drinking water? Energyfanatics.com states, "Fluorisilic acid is a waste product of phosphate fertilizer industry and is heavily contaminated with toxins and heavy metals (including the cancerous arsenic, lead and cadmium) and radioactive materials. The website continues to state, "Dr.J. William Hirzy, EPA scientist, is reported to have said, 'If the stuff gets out into the air, it's a pollutant; If it gets into the river, it's a pollutant; if it gets into a lake, it's a pollutant; but if it goes right straight in your drinking water system, it's not a pollutant. That's amazing!'"

So a product that pollutes the bodies of water on earth and contains cancerous elements is allowed in our public drinking water. Water is essential for human survival and your body needs it to function properly. The body is made up of seventy percent water so the water you put in your body will basically determine your overall health.

"There have been over 34 human studies and 100 animal studies linking fluoride to brain damage," according to the Institute for Vibrant Living, including lower IQ in children. Studies have also shown that fluoride toxicity can lead to a wide variety of health problems including dementia, arthritis, bone fractures, increased tumor and cancer rate, disrupted immune system, bone cancer, genetic damage and so on. Cancer and arthritis are conditions that affect a good percentage of Americans on a daily basis. The fact that our drinking water contains elements that lead to cancer and countless other problems American citizens face on a daily basis is a disrespect to the integrity of people everywhere.

I see countless commercials regarding cancer research and the ongoing fight against cancer, but none of them ever mentioned that our drinking water contributes to the cancer our loved ones face everyday. I can imagine that the average person would never dream that the same water that's suppose to help them is slowing leading them to their own demise. It isn't easy information to swallow. Furthermore, if we wish to eradicate the diseases that plague our human condition, we have to stop putting harmful fluoride in our basic essentials of living. We all have the choice to take action, or do nothing. Fluoride is obviously a threat to human health and needs to be removed.