Just say NO to fluoridation

Sept. 11, 2012

Re:  Fluoridating our water

           

Dear Mayor Sam Adams & City of Portland Commissioners: 

I am writing to let you know that I DO NOT support the effort by Randy Leonard and Mayor Sam Adams to put fluoride in our wonderful city water supply.  Good thing neither of you is running because I will never vote for you again. 

First of all, this should not be a rush decision or something that should be done behind closed doors.  We need city-wide dialogue with a public vote. We should have the choice of what to put in our bodies. 

I do not come at this as someone who is afraid of fluoride.  Although I am a native-Portlander, I lived for 10 years in cities with fluoridated water (Chicago & Atlanta).    

There are several reasons I do not support putting fluoride in our water.

1)  Fluoride is toxic.  It is a byproduct of industrial fertilizer manufacturing processes.  If companies had to dispose of it they’d have to dispose of it as “TOXIC WASTE”.  Why is there a loophole that allows them to sell it to municipalities to put in our water supplies in the name of public health?! 

2) Only 5% of the world’s water supply is fluoridated.  Since the 1970s, many governments have refused to fluoridate their water.

According to an Aug. 1988 article in Chemical and Engineering News, by B. Hilleman:  “The Danish Minister of Environment recommended against fluoridation in 1977 because "no adequate studies had been carried out on its long-term effects on human organ systems other than teeth and because not enough studies had been done on the effects of fluoride discharges on freshwater ecosystems."

"In 1978, the West German Association of Gas & Water Experts rejected fluoridation for legal reasons and because 'the so-called optimal fluoride concentration of 1 mg per L is close to the dose at which long-term damage [to the human body] is to be expected.' "

Contrary to what fluoride supports have said in the media, there are studies that show that fluoridation chemicals are unsafe. A broad spectrum of scientific studies in top scientific journals and from credible researchers show serious reasons to be concerned about fluoride’s role in everything from decreased IQ in children to increased risks of bone fracture in the elderly.  The 2006 report by the National Academy of Sciences is likely the single best resource that summarizes many of these studies.  You can find more about these studies on http://www.cleanwaterportland.org/ or the Fluoride Action Network’s website:  http://www.fluoridealert.org/

3) Fluoride’s proponents say we have a dental health crisis in Portland, however, based on actual numbers Portland kids actually have the lowest cavities in our state and rank as having the 15^th lowest cavity rate in the United States when compared to states with fluoridated water. 

These numbers from Clean Water Portland’s fact sheet are telling:  “The percentage of Portland metro children that have had a cavity is 54%, compared to 70% of children outside of Portland. (2007 Smile survey at p. 12) This is true even though only roughly 8% of the Portland metro area is fluoridated, but roughly 33% of Oregon residents outside Portland metro are fluoridated.  Portland metroʼs cavity rate is actually so much lower than the rest of the state, we bring down the statewide average to 66.3%.

How do we compare to the rest of the states? Also from the Clean Water Portland fact sheet:  “Portlandʼs children would rank as having the 15th lowest rate of “cavities experiences” in the U.S. (CDC Caries Experience data3, New York state ranked 15th with 54.1%). This is true despite the high fluoridation rates in many states.

The percentage of Portland metro children with untreated decay is 21%, compared to 44% outside of Portland and 35.4% statewide. (2007 Smile survey at p. 12) While thereʼs always room for improvement, the Portland metro area has already met the 2010 National Oral Health Objectives for rates of untreated decay (21%).”

Yes, childhood cavities may be increasing over the last several decades.  But I believe that is because of our diet – prepackaged foods and too many sodas.  Not to mention how many of our schools have soda vending machines. 

We don’t need fluoride in our water.  If the City of Portland would like to deal with children’s dental needs the priorities should be:  getting fresh food for families of all income levels; getting rid of soda pop and other sugar beverages (including the chocolate and other flavored milk) in our schools; and access to affordable dental and healthcare for everyone. 

4) I’ve lived and traveled all over this country and Portland has the best-tasting water.  Let’s keep it that way, please.    

Thank you to Commissioners Amanda Fritz and Dan Saltzman for keeping an open mind on this issue.   

I urge you to give voters an open, intelligent, dialogue and vote on this issue.  

Sincerely,
HW