suppress the flow of Fluoride to the brew [Kumari 2017]. Limited success was achieved, but unfortunately the technologies tried for defluoridation are very pH sensitive and can introduce risks associated with Aluminium and constituents in polymers used in adsorbents.
Harms associated with other constituents of Green Tea
Approximately 30–40% of the Green Tea leaves’ solid extract is composed of polyphenols including catechins including epicatechin, gallate-3-epicatechin, epigallocatechin, and, predominantly, gallate- 3-epigallocatechin. The toxicity and endocrine disrupting potential of some of these polyphenols has been investigated [Johnson 1999, Kao 2000].
Epigallocatechin-3-gallate increases the formation of mineralized bone nodules by human osteoblast-like cells [Vali 2007].
Researchers have sounded a note of caution with regard to the consumption by women in the third trimester of pregnancy of foods with high concentrations of polyphenols, to avoid triggering constriction of ductus arteriosus, with its potential harmful consequences, such as foetal and neonatal heart failure and pulmonary arterial hypertension of the newborn [Zielinsky 2007; 2012; 2013].
Aluminium is clearly a major hazard in Green and other Tea [Matsumoto 1976, Shu 2003, Wong 2003, Borjigin 2009, Jayawardhane 2016] and has been briefly reviewed as part of the neurotoxic hazard associated with Fluoridation [Pain 2017f].
Aluminium toxicity in association with Fluoride will be discussed in more detail elsewhere [Pain 2018a]. It is not widely known that Green Tea contains the potent neurotoxins Fluoroacetate and Fluorocitrate [Peters 1972].
Further details of these toxins will be been discussed in relation to the Phosphate fertilizer problem and Fluoridation [Pain 2017 g; 2018b].
Conclusion
Fluoride and Aluminium content of Green Tea makes it a drink that should be avoided by both men and women who wish to produce a family or want to avoid the chronic illnesses caused by those elements.
In line with pharmacy advice for Sodium Fluoride, pregnant women should not consume any Green Tea.
It would be useful if scientists who have reported harms caused by Green Tea, without mention of Fluoride, can return to their samples and report Fluoride content. All Green Teas sold in Australia should include hazard warnings and be labeled for their Fluoride content in dry form and the estimated brewed content after standard and specified brewing conditions, with and without Fluoridated water.
Given that the Fluoride contamination of Green Tea comes from the soil, over the next few decades, the Tea industry will have to close down its existing plantations and relocate to areas of low soil Fluoride or investigate the possibility of hydroponics.
However the risks posed by the polyphenols would remain.
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