Alaska - Juneau’s water
Juneau’s water
Phil Osborn, Fairbanks
Published Sunday, March 2, 2008
Feb. 24, 2008
To the editor:
I’d like to highlight Juneau’s water supply policy, which is to withhold fluoride from the public water system, due to lack of scientific assurances that it is a safe practice.
Dental fluorosis (a disfiguring and irreversible condition) was found in 32 percent of participating children in a 2005 study by the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC also says it “continues to recommend steps to prevent moderate and severe enamel fluorosis. These steps include using an alternate water source for children 8 and younger if the primary drinking water source has naturally occurring fluoride above 2 mg/L, and supervising the use of toothpaste by children younger than 6 years to prevent swallowing excess toothpaste. Parents should place only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the child’s brush.”
Fairbanks does not have this level naturally occurring in the water, but it is obvious to me that fluoride is found in many daily consumed foods and beverages, adding to the total exposure to fluoride.
In my opinion, common sense dictates that exposure to fluoride would best be regulated by choice: Those who continue to believe in fluoride’s safety and benefits should use fluoridated toothpaste (making sure children only use pea-sized amounts). The rest of Fairbanks, concerned there may be some link between fluoride and numerous health risks, should rest easy knowing their city government removed the substance from the public water supply, since it is a controversial topic, and it seemed better public policy to err on the side of caution, like the Juneau city government.
You have to wonder, what benefit is behind continuing to use a controversial toxic substance and what benefit is behind concern for potential health risks, allowing personal choice to buy fluoride toothpaste? Fairbanks should be among the progressive, healthier communities that ban fluoride, and let’s not wait — health is worthy of action.
Several comments added
Phil Osborn, Fairbanks
Published Sunday, March 2, 2008
Feb. 24, 2008
To the editor:
I’d like to highlight Juneau’s water supply policy, which is to withhold fluoride from the public water system, due to lack of scientific assurances that it is a safe practice.
Dental fluorosis (a disfiguring and irreversible condition) was found in 32 percent of participating children in a 2005 study by the Centers for Disease Control. The CDC also says it “continues to recommend steps to prevent moderate and severe enamel fluorosis. These steps include using an alternate water source for children 8 and younger if the primary drinking water source has naturally occurring fluoride above 2 mg/L, and supervising the use of toothpaste by children younger than 6 years to prevent swallowing excess toothpaste. Parents should place only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste on the child’s brush.”
Fairbanks does not have this level naturally occurring in the water, but it is obvious to me that fluoride is found in many daily consumed foods and beverages, adding to the total exposure to fluoride.
In my opinion, common sense dictates that exposure to fluoride would best be regulated by choice: Those who continue to believe in fluoride’s safety and benefits should use fluoridated toothpaste (making sure children only use pea-sized amounts). The rest of Fairbanks, concerned there may be some link between fluoride and numerous health risks, should rest easy knowing their city government removed the substance from the public water supply, since it is a controversial topic, and it seemed better public policy to err on the side of caution, like the Juneau city government.
You have to wonder, what benefit is behind continuing to use a controversial toxic substance and what benefit is behind concern for potential health risks, allowing personal choice to buy fluoride toothpaste? Fairbanks should be among the progressive, healthier communities that ban fluoride, and let’s not wait — health is worthy of action.
Several comments added
posted by Bill at
9:26 AM
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