This email chain has not been changed. Fluoridation lobbyist, Johnny Johnson falsely accused me of attempting "to use smoke and mirrors to influence local CWF decision-makers into thinking that community water fluoridation (CWF) is some evil sinister conspiracy to dumb down the masses." He implies falsely that I embrace that CWF is a communist plot, a Nazi concentration camp tool used against the Jews, a John Birch Society crusade, or a modern day conspiracy theory against everyone in the world that’s done CWF research. Sadly, he snookered many Potsdam residents and officials to believe these lies. My reply is at the top. Johnny's email is below mine. (For the record, my story is here: http://fluoridedangers.blogspot.com/p/my-story.html )
From: Carol
S. Kopf
Sent: Wednesday, October 11, 2017 10:05 AM
Subject: Carol Kopf: What she wants you to know
For the record: I don’t
believe fluoridation is some evil sinister conspiracy to dumb down the masses.
I do not believe fluoridation is a communist plot nor is there any evidence, as
Johnny Johnson says, that fluoridation was used in Nazi concentration camps
against the Jews. I know nothing of the John Birch Society crusade except that
fluoridationists bring it up. And I do not believe fluoridation is a modern day
conspiracy theory against everyone in the world who has done community water
fluoridation research, as Dr. Johnson has accused me of.
Simply put. Science does not support fluoridation,
only politics does. Judging by the people who were cc’d in Dr. Slott’s email to
you, you are a target of a national fluoridation campaign. I understand the
political pressure you must be under. One of the cc’s was to their fluoridation
PR Person, Matt Jacob, who only has a degree in journalism and who has advised
fluoridationists to avoid talking about risks because they can’t win on that
issue. They are all associated with rich and powerful groups.
I can only provide you with information. And that’s
what I’ll continue to do as new information comes forward
By the way, after I spearheaded the end of fluoridation
in Levittown, I thought journalists didn’t understand science. So I wanted to
become one of them to get the truth out. While my kids were young, I started
school, received a BS in biology then a MA in NYU’s Science and Environmental
Reporting Program – where I learned politics, lobbying and pressure also
dictates what gets reported and what doesn’t.
Good Luck to all of us
Carol Kopf
From: Johnny Johnson
Sent: Tuesday, October 10, 2017 3:38 PM
Cc: AKENMORE@WDT.NET ; news@northcountrynow.com ; hopkeef@twcny.rr.com ; Carol S. Kopf ; Johnny Johnson
Subject: Carol Kopf: What she doesn't want you to
know
Dear Mayor
Tischler and Trustee’s Garner, Sheehan, Warr, and Lee,
As expected,
Ms. Kopf swoops in to attempt to use smoke and mirrors to influence local CWF
decision-makers into thinking that community water fluoridation (CWF) is some
evil sinister conspiracy to dumb down the masses. CWF is not a communist plot,
a Nazi concentration camp tool used against the Jews, a John Birch Society
crusade, or a modern day conspiracy theory against everyone in the world that’s
done CWF research.
Kopf's
crusade to undermine a safe and effective public health measure, CWF, is
shameful. I often ask her "Do you not care for people that are suffering and
can’t afford to see a dentist? That is what you continue to promote. Stopping
CWF’s preventive benefits will result in more dental disease which in turn will
increase the treatment of cavities instead of preventing them. That’s not how
medicine and dentistry work. Our focus is on prevention of this Infectious
and Transmissible disease."
I have to
smile when she stated: "Being a non-scientist, as I assume most if not all of
you are, I don’t judge by my personal experience but rely on experts to wade
through the science to make fluoridation studies clear for me. The UK
Cochrane’s group of researchers are considered the gold standard of scientists,
independent and trusted, even partially funded by our own CDC.” Her
statement about the CDC partially funding the Cochrane Group is absolutely
false.
Kopf is a
non-scientist. She has no training in human physiology or the healthcare
sciences. She is the media relations director for the anti-CWF group, Fluoride
Action Network (FAN). To speak about the Cochrane Oral Health Group (COHG) as
though she's been informed by the powers that be, is humorous. Paul Connett
does not have biological or physiological training in the health sciences
either. He is a chemist. The body is not a test tube.
1.
Cochrane Oral Health Group Meeting:
I attended a
meeting in London in the summer of 2015 with three of the Cochrane Oral Health
Group's authors, as well as top researchers from around the world, academicians,
Israel’s dentist in the Ministry of Health, and the British Fluoridation Society
(BFS). It was to discuss their CWF report, methodology, and the anti’s use of
their review to convince communities to stop CWF.
The COHG was
not happy that Ms. Kopf and FAN were abusing their Plain Language Summary (PLS)
that they had written. Cochrane writes a PLS for all of their research so that
leaders around the world can understand their findings and be able to boil down
the research to common, non-scientific language. They were so upset that Kopf
and FAN were so blatantly abusing their PLS that they took the
unprecedented step to rewrite their PLS to stop this.
After that
meeting in London, a "Critique of the review of ‘Water Fluoridation for the
prevention of dental caries’ published by the Cochrane Collaboration in 2015”
was published in the British Dental Journal. I was a
co-author and contributor. It is a thorough document that completely describes
the shortcomings of how the COHG review was conducted, the methodology, how they
chose the studies to include and more importantly, exclude solid studies, and
methods that the Cochrane Collaboration have established for Public Health
Interventions, which they chose not to use.
2. Kopf
Continues to distort the truth:
Attached
below is a comment exchange that Kopf and I had over the COHG in comment
sections time and time again. It clearly shows how she has tried to twist the
findings of the COHG. She knows full well that they indeed did find
cavity reductions in children from CWF. The issue with their literature search
was that they had a very narrow inclusion criteria for the literature to meet
their grading system, GRADE. That was because they were updating the York
Review from 15 years prior and had to use the same criteria. Their inclusion
criteria was so narrow that it excluded most contemporary research that has been
done. They even state that in their PLS.
3. Kopf
Challenges the CDC:
It might
come as a surprise to her that we know that she tried to get the CDC to say that
they funded the COHG study. Yes, I have the email Ms. Kopf. The CDC said no
that they had not. Here is the official reply to Kopf from the CDC:
Dear Ms. Kopf:
This note is in response to your June 29, 2015, inquiry about
CDC’s involvement with the Cochrane report, Water
Fluoridation to Prevent Tooth Decay. CDC did not fund the 2015
Cochrane review of fluoridation research. However,
through a competitive process, the Cochrane Oral Health Group was
awarded a contract in 2011 to update all of the oral
health reviews in The Guide to Community Preventive Services (www.thecommunityguide.org). Among
these was a water
fluoridation review that included most of the same studies that
were included in the recent Cochrane review.
The COHG was
awarded the contract. These were the same COHG authors that wrote the
2015 Review of CWF. I personally verified this with the COHG in a
conversation. I’m certain that Kopf knows well that they signed off on the
Community Guide which states that CWF is recommended on strong evidence:
(document attached)
"Task Force Finding (April 2013) The
Community Preventive Services Task Force recommends community water
fluoridation based on strong evidence of effectiveness in reducing dental
caries across populations. Evidence shows the prevalence of caries is
substantially lower in communities with CWF. In addition, there is no
evidence that CWF results in severe dental fluorosis.
Evidence
indicates the economic benefit of CWF is greater than the cost. In addition, the
benefit-cost ratio increases with the size of the community
population.”
4.
Anti-Fluoridationists revealed:
Instead of
tackling each of Kopf's accusations below, which can be done, perhaps it’s time
that the Village of Potsdam’s officials know who they’re really dealing with in
her and the other opponents to CWF. Below is a White Paper which identifies Ms.
Kopf and each member of the anti-fluoridation movement. It is a tell all
document.
5. Same
pew, different church:
Ms. Kopf,
leave these people alone. You bring these same twisted arguments to every city
that has anything going on with CWF. Whether they’re purchasing additives,
replacing a piece of equipment, considering starting up a CWF program, budget
meetings, or any other angle for which you can capitalize on. It didn’t work in
my home county of Pinellas, FL. It didn’t work in Brooksville, FL, Wellington,
FL, Ormond Beach, FL, Gainesville, FL, Clarksburg, West Virginia, Green Bay, WI,
Albuquerque, NM, Dallas, TX, or Meadville, PA just to name a few of your
losses. The science is Crystal Clear on CWF. It is safe and effective for
all. Not a single study of the thousands that have been done on CWF since 1945
when it was initiated, has backed up the anti’s claims.
6.
Public Health:
Public
Health exists for the Public. Just like public highways, public schools, public
libraries, and public airports. Some people may not use public provided
services, but the vast majority should not be penalized by those who chose not
to do so. Public policy exists for the masses. It cannot be tailored to an
individual. This is what makes the U.S. a democracy instead of a state of
chaos. Community water fluoridation is the most effective means to get the
proper amount of fluoride to everyone in the community. You simply drink the
water and you realize the benefits of it. There is no substitute. CWF,
fluoridated toothpaste, fluoridated mouth rinses, and fluoride varnish are all
needed to reduce cavities to the max. One of these does not replace another.
They work in harmony.
7.
Summary:
Village of
Potsdam’s Trustees, please follow the credible evidence-based science that our
health and medical organizations do. These organizations are not a rubber stamp
for CWF. Consider who you’d take your child or yourself to if you were to have
a dental or medical problem; a dentist or physician, or someone that is
spreading misinformation on the internet. Leading medical and health
organizations endorse CWF as safe and effective. These include:
1. American
Academy of Pediatrics
2. American
Dental Association
3.
CDC
4. Mayo
Clinic
5. World
Health Organization.
Not a single
credible scientific organization in the world opposes CWF. Not
one.
Over 211
million people served by community water supplies receive optimally fluoridated
water daily. That is 3 out of 4 people (75%) on community water systems in the
U.S. And it continues to climb.
Please rely
on the true scientific experts and vote to proceed with your plans to continue
CWF. It’s the right thing to do. It levels the playing field for all.
Do not
hesitate to contact me with any questions that you may have.
Warm
regards,
Johnny
Johnny
Johnson, Jr., DMD, MS
Pediatric
Dentist
Diplomate
American Board of Pediatric Dentistry
President,
American Fluoridation Society-a non-profit, non-paid, all volunteer group of
healthcare professionals
c:
727.409.1770
Twitter:
@AFS_Fluoride
P.S.
Ms. Queor,
would you please get a copy of this email and the attachment to Trustee Lee for
me? I can not locate her email address. Thank you so very much.
Johnny
***********************************************************************************************************************
From:
"Carol S.. Kopf" <ckopf2@optonline.net>
Date:
October 9, 2017 at 2:43:00 PM EDT
To: <mayor@vi.potsdam.ny.us>,
<swarr@twcny.rr.com>,
<nick.sheehan21@gmail.com>,
<ruthf.garner@gmail.com>,
<hopkeef@twcny.rr.com>
Cc: <AKENMORE@WDT.NET>, <news@northcountrynow.com>
Subject: Fluoridation
Failed St. Lawrence County
To
Potsdam Village Board of Trustees
This
letter is also attached in case the photos don’t come through.
One
would think that dentists, who claim to be so deeply concerned for kids
suffering in dental pain, would organize their fellow dentists to actually fill
cavities instead of bellies with fluoride and without evidence of
“fluoride-deficiency.”
Claims
that stopping fluoridation would raise tooth decay rates are disproved by
several studies. Also, Poughkeepsie NY stopped
fluoridation in 2008. Third-graders cavity rates declined steadily – 61% in
2013; 51% in June 2014; 45% in October 2014; and 31% in 2015, according to NYU researchers.
Low-income
folks are more cavity-prone, despite fluoridation, and more susceptible to fluoride’s adverse
effects
There
is evidence that St. Lawrence children are “dentist-deficient” judging by St.
Lawrence County’s very high rate of ER visits for 3-5 year olds.
Despite
a 66% fluoridation rate, 67% of St. Lawrence County’s third graders have
tooth decay, 40% are untreated, according to NYS Dep’t of
Health Statistics. This is higher than NYS statistics which is only 40%
fluoridated (when NYC is excluded). St. Lawrence’s cavity rates are higher than
those in non-fluoridated NYS counties, such as Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland,
Dutchess, Essex, and Schuyler Counties.
Being
a non-scientist, as I assume most if not all of you are, I don’t judge by my
personal experience but rely on experts to wade through the science to make
fluoridation studies clear for me. The UK Cochrane’s group of researchers are
considered the gold standard of scientists, independent and trusted, even
partially funded by our own CDC.
The
Cochrane group of researchers reported
in 2015 that they could not find any quality evidence to prove fluoridation
changes the “existing differences in tooth decay across socioeconomic groups.”
Neither could they find valid evidence that fluoride reduces adults’ cavity
rates nor that fluoridation cessation increases tooth decay.
Fluoridation
may reduce cavities in children (2 primary teeth or 1 permanent tooth over a
lifetime), they reported. But Cochrane cautions these studies have “high risk of
bias” and were mostly done before preventive measures were widespread, e.g.
fluoridated toothpaste and sealants.
In
fact, a recent article by Julia R. Barrett in US Government Scientific Journal,
Environmental Heath Perspectives
also published an article including this statement "For people
who get enough fluoride from toothpastes and dental treatments, fluoridated
drinking water could result in overexposure.” (under the picture)
“Despite
significant financial, training, and program investments, US children’s caries
experience and inequities continued to increase over the last 20 years,”
according to the American Journal of Public
Health (2017).
At
the same time, fluoride overdose symptoms - Dental Fluorosis - is Up 600%; Dentists
profit from this and advertise their services to cover the unsightly teeth by
these dentist advertisements using before and after fluorosis photos of their
handiwork. See http://tinyurl.com/DentalFluorosis
You
may wonder why so many respected organizations endorse fluoridation. It’s
because they were lobbied using practiced one-sided talking points just the way
you may be lobbied by fluoridationists. What you aren’t told is that many
organizations have asked to be removed from this list such as the National Kidney Foundation. Many
other organizations that used to be on the list have disappeared from the list
such as the American Cancer Society
It
took 50 years for the smoking/cancer link to emerge from the literature into
popular acceptance. Before that dentists and MD’s endorsed smoking. It took 75
years for surgeons to believe that washing their hands before surgery would save
lives. And incubators were a side show at Coney Island before doctors believed
the machine could save premature babies’ lives. Most endorsements were garnered
in the 1950’s as part of a political strategy to encourage fluoridation – which
seemed like a good idea at the time and when vitamins and minerals were
discovered to “cure” diseases. Dentists thought fluoride was the magic bullet
required to prevent tooth decay.
However,
modern science now shows that ingesting fluoride is ineffective at reducing
tooth decay, that fluoride is not a nutrient or essential for healthy teeth and
that fluoride can be harmful to health, even at low levels added to public water
supplies. In fact, the CDC concedes fluoride’s beneficial effects are topical
and not systemic.
The
CDC reports, “In the earliest days of fluoride research, investigators
hypothesized that fluoride affects enamel and inhibits dental caries (cavities)
only when incorporated into developing dental enamel...” but now CDC admits
that: “Fluoride works primarily after teeth have erupted…”
CDC
also admits that “The prevalence of dental caries in a population is not
inversely related to the concentration of fluoride in enamel, and a higher
concentration of enamel fluoride is not necessarily more efficacious in
preventing dental caries.” and
"Saliva
is a major carrier of topical fluoride. The concentration of fluoride in ductal
saliva, as it is secreted from salivary glands, is low --- approximately 0.016
parts per million (ppm) in areas where drinking water is fluoridated and 0.006
ppm in nonfluoridated areas. This concentration of fluoride is not likely to
affect cariogenic activity."
Consuming
a fluoride-free diet does not cause tooth decay. Rotten diets make rotten teeth
and no amount of fluoride changes that. Tooth decay crises are occurring in all
fluoridated cities, states and countries. See http://www.FluorideNews.Blogspot.com
Additionally,
according to NYS Department of Health statistics tooth decay rates are not
necessarily lower in more highly fluoridated NYS counties when compared to less
fluoridated counties (using 2004 statistics – top chart and 2012 statistics –
bottom chart)
Former
NYS Department of Health dentist, JV Kumar, who works too closely with the
politically-motivated private dentist union, the American Dental Association
(ADA), (as does Florida dentist Johnny
Johnson), actually confirmed fluoridation's failure. Kumar compared
2004 to 2012 cavity rates and reported "disparities between high and low income
children widened." (page 62, National Oral Health
Conference).
Sadly,
too many New Yorkers are fluoride-overdosed and dentist deficient. A majority of
NYS dentists do not treat Medicaid
patients I’ve read that only 15% of NYS dentists treat a reasonable
number of Medicaid patients. And the ADA successfully lobbied to have dental
benefits excluded from Medicare.
Legalizing
Dental Therapists (DT) in NYS, as other states have done, would be the answer to
the dental health crisis facing too many New Yorkers. DTs just need two years
training to do dental work as well as dentists. They would go into mouths and
areas where dentists refuse to go and accept Medicaid patients. Sadly, the ADA
with its pockets full of corporate cash lobbies long and hard against Dental
Therapists preferring to protect its lucrative monopoly instead.
Unfortunately,
too many well-meaning dentists and other officials truly believe in
fluoridation, like a religion, so they come before you as the honest people they
are – making your job more difficult. However, as you know individual experience
isn’t indicative of science. The science is screaming at us right now that
fluoridation is unnecessary, ineffective and/or unsafe.
But
you need to know that Fluoride is neither a nutrient nor essential for healthy
teeth. Dentists are putting you in a position to act like a physician and
prescribe fluoride to your entire constituency, have it delivered by by water
engineer and in doses based on thirst – not age, health, weight or need.
Fluoride ingestion must be an individual decision not a community decision. And
the FDA has never approved fluoride for ingestion, labeling it an unapproved
drug, instead.
We
hope you reject any grant money and drop fluoridation for the benefit of your
constituents.
I
spearheaded the 1983 effort that stopped 29 years of fluoridation in Levittown,
NY. Now, I volunteer for both the New York State Coalition Opposed to
Fluoridation, Inc. and the Fluoride Action Network. If you want to learn how I
became involved, my non-sad story is here: http://fluoridedangers.blogspot.com/p/my-story.html
Best
Wishes,
Carol
S. Kopf
Levittown,
New York
PS:
My “Fluoride Dangers” blog is here: http://www.FluorideDangers.Blogspot.com
1 comment:
Carol, I have been around a while (66 years). I still continue, naturally and also by choice, to view a human being as simply that. A person, worthy of respect, appreciation, some good attention, all of this. When someone like John Johnson, proceeds to "prove himself" in the manner that he does, prove himself to be a despicable liar, slandering people who with ongoing effort and commitment bring scientific fact and common sense perspective to a misinformed public, I can only stare in wonder! This guy needs to be called out! Thank you for publishing this dialogue.
Tom Whitesell, Potsdam NY - in the middle of questioning the appropriateness of continuing fluoridation of Potsdam Village's water.
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