USA NEWPORT BEACH - Fluoridation plan continues, despite outcry
Fluoridation plan continues, despite outcry
Water district ignores city request to delay plans for further evaluation. The issue has divided town for a month of protest, debate.
By Michael Miller
NEWPORT BEACH — State officials and pediatric dentists voiced support at the Newport Beach City Council meeting Tuesday for putting fluoride in the region’s drinking water, while opponents argued the plan could cause unforeseen health problems.
The study session, held before the council’s regular meeting, did not lead to the council taking any action, but provided another forum for an issue that has divided Newport Beach for the last month.
About half the speakers Tuesday urged the council to accept the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s decision to fluoridate drinking water, citing health benefits, while others said tampering with the water could do more harm than good.
“The take-home message for tonight, ladies and gentleman, is that fluoridated water is safe,” said David Nelson of the state’s Department of Public Health. “We’ve been discussing this for 60 years.”
A number of speakers, however, expressed uncertainty about the effects of fluoride and urged the City Council to conduct its own research rather than rely on outside opinions.
“Since when is an endorsement a substitute for science?” said Jeff Green, the national director of Citizens for Safe Drinking Water, who argued that fluoride had not been proven to reduce tooth decay.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California agreed in 2003 to add fluoride to local water supplies after county health officials and dentists requested it. The district’s Robert B. Diemer Treatment Plant in Yorba Linda, which provides 18% of Newport Beach’s drinking water, is scheduled to begin fluoridating water Nov. 19.
The City Council, responding to residents’ concerns, asked the district in October to delay fluoridation until council members could evaluate the issue further; the district announced, however, it would go ahead with its plan.
Spokesman Bob Muir said Tuesday two of the district’s five plants had already started fluoridation and that the other three were set to follow in the coming weeks.
“At this time, we’re moving ahead as planned,” he said. “I’m not aware of any movement to delay this process.”
Water district ignores city request to delay plans for further evaluation. The issue has divided town for a month of protest, debate.
By Michael Miller
NEWPORT BEACH — State officials and pediatric dentists voiced support at the Newport Beach City Council meeting Tuesday for putting fluoride in the region’s drinking water, while opponents argued the plan could cause unforeseen health problems.
The study session, held before the council’s regular meeting, did not lead to the council taking any action, but provided another forum for an issue that has divided Newport Beach for the last month.
About half the speakers Tuesday urged the council to accept the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s decision to fluoridate drinking water, citing health benefits, while others said tampering with the water could do more harm than good.
“The take-home message for tonight, ladies and gentleman, is that fluoridated water is safe,” said David Nelson of the state’s Department of Public Health. “We’ve been discussing this for 60 years.”
A number of speakers, however, expressed uncertainty about the effects of fluoride and urged the City Council to conduct its own research rather than rely on outside opinions.
“Since when is an endorsement a substitute for science?” said Jeff Green, the national director of Citizens for Safe Drinking Water, who argued that fluoride had not been proven to reduce tooth decay.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California agreed in 2003 to add fluoride to local water supplies after county health officials and dentists requested it. The district’s Robert B. Diemer Treatment Plant in Yorba Linda, which provides 18% of Newport Beach’s drinking water, is scheduled to begin fluoridating water Nov. 19.
The City Council, responding to residents’ concerns, asked the district in October to delay fluoridation until council members could evaluate the issue further; the district announced, however, it would go ahead with its plan.
Spokesman Bob Muir said Tuesday two of the district’s five plants had already started fluoridation and that the other three were set to follow in the coming weeks.
“At this time, we’re moving ahead as planned,” he said. “I’m not aware of any movement to delay this process.”
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