Canada - Fluoridation for city is nearly underwater

Fluoridation for city is nearly underwater
By Kevin Werner, News Staff
Hamilton could join other municipalities this week in the United Stated, Australia and Europe in banning fluoride in its drinking water.
Politicians are expected to debate the merits of continuing to fluoride the city’s drinking water after Hamilton started its fluoridation program in 1966. In Ontario, about 70 per cent of the population, or about 8.7 million people, drink fluoridated water.
Earlier this week the Board of Health deadlocked 6- 6 on whether to continue to fluoridate the water supply, but at a reduced level from 0.7 parts per million to a target of 0.6 ppm.
“There are a lot of unknowns,” said Hamilton Mountain Councillor Terry Whitehead, who is opposed to continued fluoridation. “We know that putting anything artificial into your body may not be a good thing.”
The Board of Health members listened for five hours earlier this week to the benefits and detriments of fluoridating the city’s water system. Dr. Chris Mackie of the city’s public health department said most industrial nations, and all of the world’s leading health organizations endorse fluoridating water. He said the 46 largest cities in the U. S. fluoridate their water, while fluoridation is done in 75 per cent of Australian cities.
The proposal public health officials recommended was to reduce the level of fluoridation from 0.7 ppm to 0.6 ppm which would reduce the cost of fluoridating the city’s water from $1.4 million per year to $1.2 million.
“You are getting the same bang for a lower buck,” said Dr. Mackie. “0.7 per cent is considered safe, while 0.6 per cent is for lower cost and protecting the environment.”
Health Canada recommends fluoridating water at 0.7 ppm levels. Anything at or below 0.5 ppms would not provide the proper coverage, it has stated.
A number of medical officials backed Hamilton’s public officials recommendation to continue its fluoridation program.
“At a safe and effective level, fluoride works,” said Dr. Larry Levin, president of the Ontario Dental Association. “We have to do something now based upon current information.
Yet, Mr. Whitehead pointed out to Dr. Levin, his dentist doesn’t support fluoride in the water system.
Dr. Levin said the U. S. Centre for Disease Control, the United Nations health organization, even an Ontario medical panel supports fluoridation.
“Surely these are the people you have to listen to,” he said.
If the Board of Health decides to stop fluoridating the city’s water, the options the city can take to protect Hamilton’s most vulnerable population –especially children living in low income areas -include topical application by the public health at a cost of between $4.9 million to $13.8 million, topical application by dentists at a cost between $10.2 million and $29.8 million, and distributing toothbrushes and toothpaste at a cost of about $3.2 million.
Fluoridation facts
• In 1966 Hamilton starts fluoridating its water after holding referendum;
• 8.7 million people in Ontario drink fluoridated water
• $1.4 million is the annual cost to fluoride Hamilton’s water system
• 97 per cent of European countries have chosen fluoride-free wate.
• 20 to 75 per cent increase in dental fluorosis in fluoridated countries.

Yet in Southampton Barry Cockcroft calls for 1ppm as the optimal level - I think fluoridation is as sensible as blood letting. Dumping 112.3 tonnes per year of contaminated fluoride into our drinking water for the sake of some deprived kids in the city centre is plain daft.