Avoid fluoride consumption — it serves no useful purpose

Re: Fluoride decision may be taken away from municipalities, by Dave Battagello, May 16.

Windsor council’s vote to remove fluoride from the city’s drinking water in 2013 was courageous and intelligent. Any effort by the province to reverse that decision should be rejected.

The recent water crisis in Flint has produced one positive effect. The public knows now to question whether our drinking water is safe. And, reliance upon government agencies, environmental authorities and the pharmaceutical companies that benefit from the sale of fluoride is foolhardy.

Here are some of the salient reasons that led to Windsor rejecting fluoride:

Fluoride is an endocrine disrupting, neurotoxic and bone-weakening substance.

Fluoride is recognized as a drug by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Sodium fluoride can only be dispensed by prescription.

Humans have no recognized physiological need for fluoride.

Adding fluoride to drinking water prevents controlling the amount consumed or the persons affected, including children too young to provide informed consent.

It is important to know that Windsor’s decision to remove fluoride, while informed, was not unique. Hundreds of communities and countries have decided likewise. Virtually all of Western Europe has rejected water fluoridation.

Fluorosis results from increased consumption of fluoride. The toothpaste industry is keenly aware of the possibility of successful lawsuits not unlike those that have been launched against the cigarette industry.

They know that fluoride must pose a danger because they place prominent warning labels on all toothpaste that contains fluoride. Some manufacturers warn parents to supervise their children’s tooth-brushing and to teach them to prevent swallowing toothpaste.

Our politicians should not be swayed by those bought and paid for by Big Pharma, including members of any Dental Association. Fluoride is a drug. Last year over 100,000 persons in the United States died from the negative side effects of drugs taken as prescribed.

Fluoride serves no useful purpose. Its consumption should be avoided.

PATRICK J DUCHARME, Ducharme Fox LLP, Windsor