Post
by slim » Sun Jan 25, 2009 1:49 am
My last point on this because frankly i can't be fucked anymore
Mentioning Fluoxetine and Sarin shows a fairly horrendous misunderstanding of chemistry.
The fluorine molecule in fluoxetine (not going to give it its brand name as i am no more a fan of the pharmaceutical industry's questionable ethics as i imagine your are) is bound to carbon, so in no way resembles a free fluoride ion. If it was there to dissociate away and cause havoc in the body i would take your point, but the very reason it is there is to make the molecule more stable, as the carbon - fluorine bond is extremely stable. This prevents the liver from metabolising it too quickly, meaning that less of the drug needs to be given.
Sarin works by inhibiting enzymes in your synapses that allow recycling of a neurotransmitter called acetylcholine, as far as i know the fluorine part doesn't actually work on the enzyme itself, but i could be wrong.
I'm obviously not arguing from total ignorance here, and if tomorrow a credible paper comparing areas with fluoride in their water with areas that don't is published, and finds any detriment of health that can be linked to fluoride poisoning, i will totally accept that point of view, but internet speculation and passionate argument are no match for scientific evidence, imperfect, at times, though it may be.