USA - Need real debate on safety of water fluoridation

I was disturbed to read Kevin Horrigan’s disparaging editorial of the water fluoridation debate taking place in St. Peters (“St. Peters tackles precious bodily fluids,” Oct. 31). Apparently Mr. Horrigan didn’t bother doing even a simple web search of the water fluoridation issue. If he had, he would have found scientific studies that do show water fluoridation to be a serious health controversy that shouldn’t be dismissed by demeaning commentary.

For example, the Harvard School of Public Health in July 2012 announced a study of the impact of fluoride on neurological development in children (lead author Anna Choi). The study found a link between high fluoride levels in drinking water in China and elsewhere in the world, and lower IQs in children. Philippe Grandjean, one of the authors, summed up their analysis saying: “Fluoride seems to fit in with lead, mercury, and other poisons that cause chemical brain drain. The effect of each toxicant may seem small, but the combined damage on a population scale can be serious, especially because the brain power of the next generation is crucial to all of us.”

The time has come for a real debate on the true safety of water fluoridation.

Steve Rogers  •  St. Louis County