Canada - Fluoride: we’re stuck with it, reader

Dear Mayor and council,

We read with interest the article in the Beacon Star on June 5 (Town opts to stick with fluoride) regarding the town’s decision to keep the fluoridation of the water supply to the town.

We have a few questions regarding this decision.

Dr. Jim Chirico stated that fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in rock, soil and water. However, when we spoke with Coun. Paul Borneman in December 2014, he told us the type of fluoride that the town uses comes from industrial plant waste in Asia. It is illegal for use there, because of its toxicity. It is not a naturally-occurring fluoride. Consequently, we started to do some research and discovered that many people – health care professionals and ordinary citizens – have had a growing concern over the safety and efficiency of treating drinking water with this chemical mixture. Dr. Chirico also states that the water is treated with chlorine, another toxic chemical. He failed to point out that while chlorine is easily and inexpensively removed from water (if one so chooses), the fluoride compound - and some of the chemicals that come with it- cannot be removed; we are stuck with it.

We would like to hear a response from council on some other questions: How much research into the effects and efficiency of water fluoridation did the councillors themselves do?

In the district of Parry Sound, where a majority of the populace lives outside the area served by treated water, the local dental professionals would see if there was a marked difference between the dental health of those drinking the fluoride treated water and home and those that are on other systems. Was this report prepared and presented?

Knowing that many residents of the town had concerns about the addition of this type of fluoride into our drinking water, what professional did the council ask to present the arguments against the addition of the chemical mixture, so that balanced discussion could be had, and more informed decision could be made?

As this chemical is used to treat humans, and not for the safety of the water supply, do the councilors feel they are in a better position to prescribe this drug to the residents en masse, than our individual health care practitioners are? How did they come to this conclusion?

Coun. Brad Horne stated that he agreed with the World Health Organization about the fact that we put fluoride in the water.

We are enclosing a report from the World Health Organization about the danger of fluoride and the need to remove it from water, due to the many conditions people suffer from fluoridation ranging from ‘mild dental fluorosis to crippling skeletal fluorosis.’

As well, we are including several reports from Europe and North America, from a wide range of health care professionals, with accreditations and sources noted, regarding the dangers of the addition of this chemical mixture drinking water.

You will note that Dr. Arvid Carlsson, Nobel Laureate in Medicine/Physiology has this to say: “Fluoridation goes against all principles of pharmacology. It’s obsolete.”

We would like to close by reminding the council that Dr. Chirico warns of the dangers of “selective review of the literature.” Until both sides of the argument are fully presented, that is exactly what council has let happen.

It is not too late to review your decision.

Wayne and Mary Anne Gilbert

Parry Sound

I see Steven added his comments. He keeps busy.