10
Friday, September 26, 1975
University Daily Kansan
Van Zandt to press box
Jerad Van Zandt, son of KU defensive coordinator Lance Van
Zandt, annails instructions on one of Memorial Stadium's press
Staff Photo by DON PIERCE
box phones (inoperative Thursday) during the Jayhawks' last practice before the Oregon State game Saturday.
Teeth clenched in fluoride dispute
By CHUCK ALEXANDER
Staff Writer
If a University of Kansas professor has his way, artificially floridated drinking water in Lawrence will become a thing of the past.
According to Lewis McKinney, associate professor of history, artificial fluorides may cause cancer. Fluorides often are added to toothpaste during treatment to prevent tooth decay.
"Knowledge of the full dangers (of fluoridation) are only beginning to emerge," McKinney said Tuesday. "But we're still fluoridating water."
But fluoridation of drinking water was favored by 19 of the 23 dentists in Lawrence.
"Tm 120 in favor of it (w water fluoridation)," Lawrence Mayer, one Lawrence dentist, said. "It's an inexpensive dental disease and it's effective, too."
Mayer said water fluoridation had been the most thoroughly researched top of its kite.
McKinney said that Dean Burke, former chief of the cytochemistry division of the National Cancer Institute, has shown that 25,000 deaths occur annually in the United
States because of artificially fluoridated water.
"The city of Lawrence has had fluoridated water since 1944," Ervin Hodges, Lawrence director of utilities, said. "We maintain a level of no more than one per million which is within the approved concentration by the Department of Health."
However, according to McKinney, fluorides tend to cumulate. Such cumulation can increase fluoride in the body to toxic levels.
"This is a cumulative poison and it has to be so for 40 years," McKinney said. "Mine needs to be so for 40 years."
There are filtering devices that can filter fluorides out of water but they are expensive. According to Hodges, Lawrence doesn't have such a filter.
Mayer said he disagreed the contention that he could approach dangerous concentrations of a pesticide.
"Floride is easily eliminated by the boot. Mayer said." It is only retained by the foot.
McKinney said fluoride in the water was
of questionable value to adults and even children.
"Fluoride is put into water for one purpose," McKinney said. "That's strengthen the teeth of children so they'll be resistant to tooth decay, a beneficial effect for over age 12."
"Three of my four children do not have any cavities, Mkiney said. "They do not drink fluoridated water. It's a matter of diet and dental hyeene."
Mayer agreed that fluoridated water had a limited effect on the teeth of persons older than 12. But he said some adults got some benefit from drinking fluoridated water.
"It is a topical effect," he said. "The fluoride help resist decay."
McKinney said a letter written by Burke emphasizing the possible correlation between artificially fluoridating drinking water was sent to Rep. James J. Delaney, D.N.Y.
"The Delaney amendment," McKinney said, "says you cannot add a known carcinogen (cancer causing substance) to food or water. If it can be established that fluorides are a carcinogen, they'll have to stop."
Sigma Chi theft victim
Property valued at $776 was stolen this week from the area around Sigma Chi fraternity, 1439 Tennessee St., according to Lawrence police.
Three tape players and several tapes, valued at $686, were stolen from cars in the parking lot of TPC Bank on Monday and Wednesday. The stolen property belonged to Mike J. Harmon, Hutchinson senior, Kevin F. Knope, Karen D. Olsen and Chuck Wagstaff, Topa freshman.
The front wheel of a bicycle and the back wheel and sprocket of another bicycle were also stolen from outside Sigma Chi. These losses were estimated at $110.
Steven Lewis Legal Support Fund
A quality educator is not teaching. Help support the investigation of this issue.
Please make checks payable and send to Steven Lewis Legal Support Fund c/o University State Bank, escrow dept., 995 Iowa St., Lawrence, KS.
Concerned students and faculty have brought charges against the School of Social Welfare's administration, regarding the issue of equal employment opportunity for Steven Lewis. Charges are pending with the University Judiciary Committee.
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