Alaska - Fluoridation not renewed.

Juneau nixes flouridation
Associated Press
Article Last Updated:11/21/2006 12:52:13 PM AKST
The Juneau Assembly has voted against continued flouridation of the city's drinking water. The proposal failed narrowly in a 4-to-5 vote. Assembly member Sara Chambers was one of those against continued fluoridation. She said her main problem was that she does not trust the government to dose accurately.
The issue arose nearly two years ago when it was discovered that a public works employee had stopped adding fluoride to drinking water because it was suspected of eroding city pipes.
When area doctors and dentists learned the program had ceased, they successfully argued that it be resumed. A task force appointed by the Assembly to study fluoridation was split on the issue. Roughly 40 people signed up to speak at yesterday's hearing. Approximately three-quarters of the speakers spoke in favor of fluoridation.
But several residents, however, voiced strong opposition. Resident David Ham said he can't understand why the entire population should be exposed to flouride when individuals can take supplements.