Editor:

Perhaps you've seen the "Ten Reasons" card being handed out by the anti-fluoride advocates in Owen Sound. There is nothing of substance to bear out their claims. I guess, if you say it loud enough and often enough, someone might believe you. Let's take a closer look at those so-called reasons...

#1 Toxic? Fluoride used in municipal water systems is not a toxic waste. Health Canada states, "Fluoridation additives certified for use in drinking water are not classified as hazardous waste in Canada." (http://www.fptdwg.ca/assets/PDF/0804-JointGovernmentofCanadaresponse.pdf)

#2 Drug? Fluoride used in municipal water systems is not classified as a drug. Health Canada states, "Where minerals are added or where food is fortified with a mineral (e.g., iron in cereals), the food does not become a drug. Fluoride used in drinking water fluoridation is; therefore, not a considered a drug under theFood and Drugs Act." (http://www.fptdwg.ca/assets/PDF/0804-JointGovernmentofCanadaresponse.pdf)

#3 Forced Medication? Fluoride is not a drug (see #2 above). The decision to add fluoride to the municipal water supply was approved by a majority of voters in Owen Sound. While we value individual rights, we accept that some public policies put the common good above the desires of individuals. Fluoridation of the water supply is one example.

#4 No Benefit? The Canadian Paediatric Society states, "Water fluoridation is a major, cost-effective public health achievement and the most effective measure to prevent caries." (http://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/oral-health-care-for-children#ref36)

#5 Banned in Europe? Not so, many countries that do not fluoridate their water add fluoride to their table salt and milk to get the benefits it offers. Fluoridated salt is widely used in Austria, France, Germany, Spain, Czech Republic, Switzerland and many countries in Central and South America. Milk fluoridation programmes are currently in operation in Chile, China, The Russian Federation, Thailand and the United Kingdom. (http://www.who.int/oral_health/publications/milk_fluoridation_2009_en.pdf) (http://www.borrowfoundation.org/why-fluoridate-milk/fluorides-and-oral-health.html)

#6 Accumulates in body? The European Union Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) identified soft tissues do not accumulate fluoride. The blood-brain barrier stops fluoride getting into the central nervous system. Approximately 99% of the fluoride in the human body is found in bones and teeth. (http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/fluoridation/en/l-3/2.htm)

#7 Babies? Breastfeeding is always preferred. The American Academy of Paediatrics states, "Human breast milk contains almost no fluoride, even when the nursing mother drinks fluoridated water. Powdered infant formula contains little or no fluoride, unless mixed with fluoridated water. The amount of fluoride ingested will depend on the volume of fluoridated water mixed with the formula." (www.aap.org/oralhealth/pact)

#8 Neurotoxin? This comes from the analysis of 27 studies of children exposed to high levels of fluoride in drinking water, mainly from China. There were significant amounts of fluoride in the water, far beyond what we use. Those studies also identify low iodine levels, air quality from the burning of high fluoride coal and the presence of arsenic and lead which are all factors that can affect IQ. (http://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(13)70278-3/abstract)

#9 Nutrient? Fluoride is an essential trace element. (http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/73/6/1116.1.full.pdf+html)

This statement also included a reference to the U.S. National Research Council (NRC). The NRC looked at Maximum Allowable Concentrations in the environment "asguidelines for areas in the United States that are contaminated or have high concentrations of naturally occurring fluoride." The NRC research did not look at levels found in municipal drinking water systems and "did not include an examination of the benefits and risks that might occur at these lower concentrations of fluoride in drinking water." (http://www.actionpa.org/fluoride/nrc/NRC-2006.pdf)

#10 Environmental Concerns? Studies found no issue of municipal water fluoridation causing levels to exceed recommended environmental concentrations. (http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/pdf/pollick.pdf) (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2400035)

The European Union Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER) "is of the opinion that adding fluoride to drinking water at concentrations between 0.8 mg F-/L and the reference dose level of WHO (1.5 mg F-/L) does not result in unacceptable risk to water organisms." (http://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/fluoridation/en/l-3/7.htm)

Still not sure? Ask your dentist.

Drew Ferguson
Grey Bruce Health Unit