Daily Archives: 1 September 2012

Impact of Fluoride on Neurological Development in Children

open quoteThe average loss was only half of one IQ point, but some studies suggested that even slightly increased fluoride exposure could be toxic to the brain. Thus, children in high-fluoride areas had significantly lower IQ scores than those who lived in low-fluoride areas. The children studied were up to 14 years of age, but the investigators speculate that any toxic effect on brain development may have happened earlier, and that the brain may not be fully capable of compensating for the toxicity.

“Fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury, and other poisons that cause chemical brain drain,” Grandjean says. “The effect of each toxicant may seem small, but the combined damage on a population scale can be serious, especially because the brain power of the next generation is crucial to all of us.”close quote (Read more)

Athletes Quit Britain to Avoid Taxes

open quoteUsain Bolt Just Says No to UK’s Taxes on Non-Resident Athletes

Athletes competing in the United Kingdom have their earnings on endorsement deals taxed by Her Majesty’s Revenue & Customs, the British tax collector. How did the London Games manage to attract some of the world’s best athletes anyway? With an exemption on that tax, of course. Thus Usain Bolt, who hadn’t competed in England for three years, appeared at the Olympics but says he’s not coming back until the tax laws are loosened. And he’s not the only one. Via The Telegraph:

In 2010 Bolt pulled out of the Aviva London Grand Prix because of his stance on UK tax, instead deciding to compete in Paris – for which he was paid $250,000.

His agent, Ricky Simms, said at the time that British tax law “has kept a lot of the big stars in other sports away from Britain”.

Tennis star Rafa Nadal pulled out of this year’s Aegon Championship at Queen’s Club due to the UK’s tax demands. He opted to compete in the Gerry Weber Open at Halle in Germany, where he received a reported £750,000.

“The truth is, in the UK you have a big regime for tax, it’s not about the money for playing,” Nadal said last year. “They [HMRC] take from the sponsors, fclose quoterom Babolat, from Nike and from my watches. This is very difficult. I am playing in the UK and losing money. I did a lot more for the last four years, but it is more and more difficult to play in the UK.”

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