USA - More information about fluoride

Thank you to Jeff Wennberg, Rutland City commissioner of public works, for inserting (at my request) the following information on the city’s website: “The CDC says mothers using powdered or concentrated infant formula can use fluoridated water. However, if your child is only consuming infant formula mixed with fluoridated water, there may be an increased chance for mild dental fluorosis, which is a mild change in the appearance of the tooth’s enamel. …”

City residents should also be aware that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also reported that 43 percent of adolescents in this country now have dental fluorosis. Families drinking the city’s fluoridated water should have the right to the facts specific to Rutland City so they can make their own decisions on what is best for their families drinking city water.

The city website specific to our water should post the information on the fact that the city is adding the industrial product fluorosilicic acid to our water. Therefore, the material safety data sheet for fluorosilicic acid should also be posted on the city website so people can read for themselves what they are actually drinking in city water.

Fluorosilicic acid is produced during the concentration of phosphoric acid in an evaporation process of the phosphate fertilizer industry whereby the vapor stream from the phosphoric acid reaction is scrubbed with water and sold right from the fertilizer company to municipalities like Rutland. Mosaic’s delivery bill of lading to Rutland City should also be posted on the city website so people can see what other contaminants are included along with the fluorosilicic acid. Taxpayers have the right to this information so they can decide for themselves if it’s OK for their children to consume “just a little bit of arsenic” along with the fluorosilicic acid.

Posting this information on the city website specific to our city water ensures Rutland citizens have the facts on our drinking water and can then make informed decisions and determine their course of action for themselves and their family members.

Please let Mr. Wennberg and our elected officials know that you agree this information on fluorosilicic acid should be made available for viewing on our city website. The people have the right to know what they are drinking.

KATHLEEN KREVETSKI

Rutland