Dr. John Doull (Chair of NRC Panel):

““The thyroid changes do worry me. There are some things there that need to be explored.

“What the committee found is that we’ve gone with the status quo regarding fluoride for many years—for too long, really—and now we need to take a fresh look.

“In the scientific community, people tend to think this is settled. I mean, when the U.S. surgeon general comes out and says this is one of the 10 greatest achievements of the 20th century, that’s a hard hurdle to get over. But when we looked at the studies that have been done, we found that many of these questions are unsettled and we have much less information than we should, considering how long this [fluoridation] has been going on. I think that’s why fluoridation is still being challenged so many years after it began.”

Dr. Hardy Limeback (Head of Preventative Dentistry, University of Toronto):

“In my opinion, the evidence that fluoridation is more harmful than beneficial is now overwhelming and policy makers who avoid thoroughly reviewing recent data before introducing new fluoridation schemes do so at risk of future litigation.”

Dr. Robert L. Isaacson (Professor Emeritus at State University of N.Y.; past president of International Behavioural Neuroscience Society):

“Epidemiological studies suggest that fluoridation of drinking water decreases the number of children at the very bright end of the IQ spectrum and increases the number in the low IQ region.”

“While a number of studies have not found any overall effect of maternal fluoride intake and the birth of children with Down syndrome, suspicions have long been raised by some studies that young mothers might be affected more than more mature mothers.”

“On the basis of this study, if no drinking water were fluoridated in the country, there would be 200 to 500 fewer babies with Down syndrome born each year to young mothers. The prevention of these births would justify the conclusion that a no-effect-level does not exist for universal fluoridation.”

“[The possible effects on endocrines and hormones from water fluoridation are] something that I wouldn’t want to happen to me if I had any say in the matter.”