Introduction:
What is the problem?
S. 2093 To suspend temporarily the duty on Perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride. (Introduced in Senate)
THOMAS gave me a summary of this bill which read:
Amends the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to suspend temporarily the duty on Perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride.
This means = This bill is all about focusing on making better choices in what is allowed in fluoridated water.
So what exactly is wrong with this Perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride in H20 you ask??
UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION illustrates the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of perfluorobutane sulfonyl fluoride as:
--"The subject product is a synthetic organic chemical that is used to manufacture protective coatings for apparel and home furnishings, and to manufacture specialty surfactants. The subject product is imported from Belgium!!!"
This means it's not even supposed to INGESTED let alone be found in our fluoridated water!!!!!!
Who is affected by the issue?
WATER CONSUMERS --Anyone who consumes water on a daily basis can and may be affected by this fluoride. Who loses tends to be placed upon anyone that is drinking or consuming the “quality” water they thought they once had. These people lose their security and comfort of knowing their local water center and their government is doing the best they can to keep them safe on such a needy task of CLEAN water. Yet, the people who gain off of this would be the people who produce and distribute out the fluoride. They continually make countless amounts of money that water conglomerates place into the distributing water centers. A task I wouldn’t be able to sit back and feel good about at the end of the day.
What are the consequences of the issue?
The consequences of this issue is that people who consume the water are getting sick from these side effects and it is causing great harm. Because this fluoride isn’t supposed to be placed into our drinking water people having these side effects that remain unidentified or acknowledged because who assumes their drinking water is causing them harm!? If this bill isn’t passed people will continue to get sick and may remain unaware of what is happening to them in the safety of their own homes.
What is the economic impact of the issue?
The economic cost lies on the shoulders of the producers of this fluoride and the companies that buy/market and then place this fluoride into their water systems that go into homes of their community. The benefits of this would be it is found at a cheaper price yet since you need to import the fluoride it still makes me wonder why the companies are using it! Consumers then bear the costs of the water bills they once face when more or less chemicals are added into the water for the betterment of their health.
What is the social impact of the issue?
The social costs of this issue tends to be between the companies that are producing this product and the water systems that are infiltrating it into our water reservoirs. This negatively affects our water systems as well as having to spend billions of dollars on now trying to fix what has been done wrong.
Benefits of this issue would be that the legislature is finally taking a look at changing out this improper fluoridated water! Two different legislatures have placed a suspension/hold on this fluoride to get a better grasp on how to change it and fix it before the problem spirals out of our hands. Learning how to fix it will not only help us locally but as a nation.
What are the barriers?
Barriers to this issue would be taking time and spending money to evaluate the water qualities in towns/cities. You need to know who is predominately affected before you can take any other steps.
Once you’ve figure that out then you can spend the money and take the time to making the water quality as clean as it can be.
If this issue arises--> by letting people know the effects of this fluoride found in their waters will change their minds. If that doesn’t do the trick letting them know what this fluoride is also used for will definitely give them a change of heart to consenting for the evaluation process to begin.
What are the resources?
The biggest resource we have is pure patient education. The community needs to be immediately informed of what our water has in it. Any type of visual presentation that can be distributed around the town would be the best (signs, posters, meetings, clubs, presenations/campaigns). This way not only can individuals learn about this through reading it but they can ASK questions. If not properly informed they will never be aware of what is really happening.
I think the biggest cliental basis is through the school system. Having forums for the parents and children to attend through the schools will allow the community to come together to form an idea of how they want to attack this issue. Different speakers (doctors, scientists, health advisers) could come in and educate the parents and students. Also, focus in on the water companies in the town and ask them to begin checking into their own supplies. Maybe not all water systems are affected but it’s better to be safe than sorry.
These results showed positive action and allowed the harmful fluoride to be temporarily suspended through December 31, 2011. Thus proving that the legislature has evidence and knows or has been educated on that something fishy is happening with this fluoride!
Allies & Opponents
The people who would support this issue would be anyone involved in the health field (DENTISTS, health educators, advocators, teachers), medical personnel (doctors, nurses), along with families who regularly consume water from the tap, and the general public. Everyone who consumes any type of water at any point would be able to agree to these points.
The people who would oppose this issue would be anyone who doesn't want to spend money for prevention or treatment. This could be people who don’t drink tap water (only bottled water). It could also be people who work for the business that produces this product. It could be people who don’t have the funds to made additional payments on having a company research these additional procedures. It could also be people who aren’t fully educated on what this product is. I had no idea before I did this project what EXACTLY it was and I was shocked to find out!
MY RECOMMENDATION:
How do you want policy-makers to vote on this proposed policy?
I want EVERYONE to vote yes for this policy! To make a healthier water consumption that people need to survive should not be up for discussion! Remember you not only DRINK this water but you use it in all of your daily activities. Bathing, eating, drinking, and cleaning!! This cannot continue, please vote YES!
Sources I read and used for this overview included:
EPA (United States Environmental Protection Agency), AMA (American Medical Association), USITC (United States International Trade Commission), ADA (American Dental Association), FIN (Fluoride Information Network), THOMAS
PART III: MEATLESS MENUS FOR SPECIAL OCCASIONS
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