(USA) Council backs congressional fluoride probe
By TOM RAGAN
Sentinel staff writer
WATSONVILLE — The City Council on Tuesday night backed a request by EPA unions calling for a congressional investigation into the possible harmful effects of adding fluoride to the water supplies of cities.But the council stopped short of calling for a nationwide moratorium on the practice, a measure that has existed for more than 50 years to reduce tooth decay and has been considered safe by the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office. After about an hour of debate in which fluoride was compared with pesticides, the council voted 4-3 to gather more scientific information on whether drinking fluoridated water can cause bone cancer.The resolution comes at a time when the city is awaiting the outcome of a state appellate court decision on whether it can add fluoride to its own water supply.
The vote came at the urging of a coalition of unions of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has written letters to cities across the country urging them to reconsider their fluoridation practices if they’re in the midst of carrying them out.
"This heart and soul of the EPA has recognized that this is an issue, that fluoride is dangerous, and that there’s some kind of cover-up," said Watsonville resident Ilia Bulaich during the public hearing.
"The stuff we might be putting in our water supply is coming directly from a mining company in Florida," he added. "It’s toxic sludge from a big phosphate company. Can you believe that? When I first heard this, I couldn’t believe it."
Sentinel staff writer
WATSONVILLE — The City Council on Tuesday night backed a request by EPA unions calling for a congressional investigation into the possible harmful effects of adding fluoride to the water supplies of cities.But the council stopped short of calling for a nationwide moratorium on the practice, a measure that has existed for more than 50 years to reduce tooth decay and has been considered safe by the U.S. Surgeon General’s Office. After about an hour of debate in which fluoride was compared with pesticides, the council voted 4-3 to gather more scientific information on whether drinking fluoridated water can cause bone cancer.The resolution comes at a time when the city is awaiting the outcome of a state appellate court decision on whether it can add fluoride to its own water supply.
The vote came at the urging of a coalition of unions of the Environmental Protection Agency, which has written letters to cities across the country urging them to reconsider their fluoridation practices if they’re in the midst of carrying them out.
"This heart and soul of the EPA has recognized that this is an issue, that fluoride is dangerous, and that there’s some kind of cover-up," said Watsonville resident Ilia Bulaich during the public hearing.
"The stuff we might be putting in our water supply is coming directly from a mining company in Florida," he added. "It’s toxic sludge from a big phosphate company. Can you believe that? When I first heard this, I couldn’t believe it."
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