By: Tyler Kula, Sarnia Observer, Sarnia, Ontario 20-May-2013 –

“The caution is it should be properly regulated,” said Dr. Sudit Ranade.

Fluoride in water has been used since the mid-20th century to strengthen teeth, although questions have been raised about whether it does any good — and whether it may actually cause harm.

Consuming excess amounts has been linked to low IQ and other health concerns, but the amount in tap water, which should be regulated to between 0.5 and 0.7 parts per million, doesn’t cause adverse affects, Ranade said.

“There isn’t a lot of evidence that fluoride is damaging to people in the quantities that it’s added to the water supply, or even when you add in the other kinds of treatment, like fluoride treatments and fluoridated toothpaste,” he said.

The cost of adding $1 of the controversial chemical to water can save up to $38 in dental treatment and oral health care costs — a relatively cheap preventative measure against tooth decay for people who can’t afford dental care, Ranade said.

“If we take it out, we’re disadvantaging all of the people who would like to have fluoride in their water,” he said, noting more than 90 professional health organizations, including Health Canada, support current fluoride levels in water.

Ranade recently recommended the Lambton Area Water Supply System (LAWSS) continue water fluoridation.

It’s six member municipalities in Sarnia-Lambton are in the midst of voting on whether to replace LAWSS’ $300,000 fluoridation system.

http://www.theobserver.ca/2013/05/20/dr-sudit-ranade-says-the-chemical-is-safe-if-regulated-properly

By: Clara Ho, Calgary Herald, Calgary, Alberta 17-May-2013 –

With the fluoride gone, Dr. Sarah Hulland, president of the Alberta Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, said kids are coming into her office with bigger cavities than historically seen before.

“More importantly, the progression to getting larger from go is much more rapid, which is really bad,” Hulland said.

Dr. Leonard Smith, who has been working as a pediatric dentist in Calgary for 42 years, said he noticed an improvement in his patients’ teeth after fluoride was introduced.

“Now we’re seeing again the horror stories in a younger population of children since they’ve taken the fluoride out,” Smith said, citing higher levels of decay in young children and even babies as young as 11 months.

“I predicted we’d see a big increase 12 months from the time the city took it out. We are busier.”

He acknowledges that fluoride alone does not stop dental decay cold, but it helps prevent dental problems primarily in the high-risk population by changing the density of the enamel and making it more resistant to acids produced by bacteria.

Hulland said she’s not confident city council would be willing to address the fluoride topic again, but added she wished council members would have been more willing to consider the information and knowledge of dentists, particularly those working with kids and in public health.

If the issue comes to council again, Hulland said there should be a plebiscite.

“Personally, I would like to see the fluoride brought back,” she said. “People benefiting from fluoride are lower income or on a fixed income. It’s not just pediatrics but also geriatrics, and it’s shameful we’re putting so much disrespect and disregard on that subpopulation.”

The city agreed to spend $750,000 — the same amount it would have spent adding the substance to the drinking water supply — to go to anti-cavity programs for children in need who are living in poverty.

But Hulland said the city has not consulted or updated pediatric dentists on the programs.

Ward 2 Ald. Gord Lowe, who voted against removing fluoride from the water, said he is “not the least bit surprised” to hear pediatric dentists reporting an increase in cavities among children.

“I was appalled when council took that decision,” Lowe said. “It was dead wrong, in my view.”

But Ward 7 Ald. Druh Farrell, who spearheaded the removal of fluoride from municipal drinking water, said cavities are on the rise across North America, including cities that fluoridate their water.

She said she’d prefer Alberta Health Services to address the problem in some other way.

Farrell also said she’s heard little on the issue since council scrapped fluoride treatment. “It’s gone quiet. It’s over.”

— With files from Jason Markusoff, Calgary Herald

http://www.calgaryherald.com/health/Dentists+report+more+cavities+kids+after+fluoride+removed+from+water/8397862/story.html

By: Chris Eakin, Fairview Post, Fairview, Alberta 01-May-2013 –

Director of public works Garry Leathem started off the evening by explaining what Fairview does at present. The chemical used (hydrofluorosilicic acid) costs $2,000 per year and the water treatment plant is licensed to add it to the water supply although operators must keep the concentration in the water around 0.7 mg/litre. Leathem explained that if they go more than .2mg/l above or below that level they have 24 hours to get the concentration back where it should be before reporting the plant as out of compliance. He explained the testing required usually takes about an hour but when the operator has run into problems it has taken as long as four hours.

Dr. de Villiers and Dr. Luke Shwart spoke on behalf of Alberta Health in favour of fluoridation, Dr. James Beck against with the Alberta Health team of de Villiers and Shwart speaking first.

The starting point was a series of questions that included: is it safe? Is it ethical? Is it effective? De Villiers and Shwart said yes, Beck said no.

De Villiers and Shwart carefully explained how Alberta Health and Health Canada used existing scientific studies as a basis for their approval of fluoridation to improved general dental health. They quoted several studies showing fluoridation is effective in improving dental health and is not linked to any health problems bar fluorosis which they say is more of a esthetic problem than a health problem.

“We reached this position [on fluoridation] not just willy-nilly. We’ve looked at all the data, all the ongoing research, all the published literature.”

Beck went on the attack from the start, saying the studies were incorrect or biased or misrepresented the authors’ actual intent. He also disagreed with their take on fluorosis, saying it can be very serious.

He did not cite any studies for his own conclusions but did offer to give website addresses with information about the studies that favour his side.

Beck said councillors have a tough job making the decision to fluoridate or not and likened it to a doctor trying to give a patient a drug without consent, without a prescription a drug which hasn’t been approved for the purpose it’s being given and the dosage isn’t controlled.

Beck went so far as to compare fluoridation to thalidomide and Shwart called it a smear tactic.

Beck said he merely meant to point out that doctors have made mistakes before.

He doesn’t accept the 1955 plebiscite as giving consent and said most plebiscites are close decisions with only a few percentage points between the yes and no side.

Councillor Tony Prybysh rebutted that by saying the conservative government rules with only 30% of the vote, “it’s the way the system works.”

As for the drug being approved, Health Canada does approve of the use of fluoride for water treatment as does Alberta Health and the amount in the water is very tightly controlled, although Dr. Beck did point out the total amount an individual ingests will vary with how much water they drink.

De Villiers and Shwart pointed out the health authorities have to take that into consideration as well as varying levels of health when they determine safe concentrations for drinking water.

The question came from the audience asking which would make more difference to children’s dental health – getting a proper diet with no junk food or having fluoride in the water.

Shwart said without hesitation proper diet would have a greater affect but would be much more difficult to bring about than fluoridation of the water supply.

At the end of the debate/forum, CAO Davidson asked everyone to fill out a questionnaire which asked how they felt about fluoridation, whether the town should stop it, continue it or take it to a plebiscite.

The next town council meeting should show where council is prepared to go on the question.

In the weeks before the forum, AHS had done a phone survey, talking to local residents and sounding them out on the topic and apparently 60% of those they talked to are in favour of continuing fluoridation.

http://www.fairviewpost.com/2013/05/01/fluoridation-forum-not-decisive-time-will-tell-on-taxpayer-conclusions

By: Ruth Bednar (Letter to the Editor), What’s Up Muskoka, Gravenhurst, Ontario 01-May-2013 – It has been two years now since our Muskoka District councillors have received a big “pat-on-the-back” from the Ministry of Health for voting to continue the practice of adding the drug called fluoride (Hydrofluorosilicic Acid or HFSA) to the drinking water to ostensibly treat dental disease in our Muskoka communities. This chemical has nothing to do with the potability of the drinking water, such as chlorine.

With 50 or more communities across Canada stopping or saying “no” to adding this chemical, plus the overwhelming recent scientific research, some councillors and citizens have looked at these independent, unbiased studies. They are aware of the accumulation and overexposure of fluoride in so many other food, beverage and dental products.

Many communities, such as Barrie or Orillia, have never had fluoridation chemicals added to their drinking water. It is clearly apparent that adding more HFSA to the drinking water supply is irresponsible and certainly unethical.

If you think drinking bottled water prevents you from receiving this chemical… think again, as artificially fluoridated water is used in Muskoka restaurants, as well as in beverages including wine and beers made in Muskoka.

Do you think your family should be medicated without a doctor monitoring the dosage and without your consent?

We can fight dental disease with a healthy diet, eliminating sugars, and teaching your children how to take care for their teeth. However, fluoridated toothpaste should never be swallowed.

Health Canada concedes that the chemical HFSA that we use to fluoridate our water has not been regulated under Canada’s Food and Drug Act, nor is it regulated under Canada’s Natural Health Product Regulations.

This is why members of Muskoka Citizens Opposing Fluoridation www.muskokacof.webs.com are speaking up and joining over 4,000 health professionals to put a stop to this unsafe, uneffective, unnecessary, and most importantly unethical practice.

http://eedition.whatsupmuskoka.com/doc/Whats-Up-Muskoka/wum_may1_2013/2013050101/#8

Fluoridation forum not decisive, time will tell on taxpayer conclusions

By: Chris Eakin, Fairview Post, Fairview, Alberta 01-May-2013

Town of Fairview residents had the chance to listen to speakers on both sides of the fluoride debate Tuesday evening and at least 70 people showed up and signed in (there may have been a few who did not sign in). However, with the debate between the two sides being inconclusive it’s difficult to see what conclusions they might have made.

Director of public works Garry Leathem started off the evening by explaining what Fairview does at present. The chemical used (hydrofluorosilicic acid) costs $2,000 per year and the water treatment plant is licensed to add it to the water supply although operators must keep the concentration in the water around 0.7 mg/litre. Leathem explained that if they go more than .2mg/l above or below that level they have 24 hours to get the concentration back where it should be before reporting the plant as out of compliance. He explained the testing required usually takes about an hour but when the operator has run into problems it has taken as long as four hours.

Dr. de Villiers and Dr. Luke Shwart spoke on behalf of Alberta Health in favour of fluoridation, Dr. James Beck against with the Alberta Health team of de Villiers and Shwart speaking first.

The starting point was a series of questions that included: is it safe? Is it ethical? Is it effective? De Villiers and Shwart said yes, Beck said no.

De Villiers and Shwart carefully explained how Alberta Health and Health Canada used existing scientific studies as a basis for their approval of fluoridation to improved general dental health. They quoted several studies showing fluoridation is effective in improving dental health and is not linked to any health problems bar fluorosis which they say is more of a esthetic problem than a health problem.

“We reached this position [on fluoridation] not just willy-nilly. We’ve looked at all the data, all the ongoing research, all the published literature.”

Beck went on the attack from the start, saying the studies were incorrect or biased or misrepresented the authors’ actual intent. He also disagreed with their take on fluorosis, saying it can be very serious.

He did not cite any studies for his own conclusions but did offer to give website addresses with information about the studies that favour his side.

Beck said councillors have a tough job making the decision to fluoridate or not and likened it to a doctor trying to give a patient a drug without consent, without a prescription a drug which hasn’t been approved for the purpose it’s being given and the dosage isn’t controlled.

Beck went so far as to compare fluoridation to thalidomide and Shwart called it a smear tactic.

Beck said he merely meant to point out that doctors have made mistakes before.

He doesn’t accept the 1955 plebiscite as giving consent and said most plebiscites are close decisions with only a few percentage points between the yes and no side.

Councillor Tony Prybysh rebutted that by saying the conservative government rules with only 30% of the vote, “it’s the way the system works.”

As for the drug being approved, Health Canada does approve of the use of fluoride for water treatment as does Alberta Health and the amount in the water is very tightly controlled, although Dr. Beck did point out the total amount an individual ingests will vary with how much water they drink.

De Villiers and Shwart pointed out the health authorities have to take that into consideration as well as varying levels of health when they determine safe concentrations for drinking water.

The question came from the audience asking which would make more difference to children’s dental health – getting a proper diet with no junk food or having fluoride in the water.

Shwart said without hesitation proper diet would have a greater affect but would be much more difficult to bring about than fluoridation of the water supply.

At the end of the debate/forum, CAO Davidson asked everyone to fill out a questionnaire which asked how they felt about fluoridation, whether the town should stop it, continue it or take it to a plebiscite.

The next town council meeting should show where council is prepared to go on the question.

In the weeks before the forum, AHS had done a phone survey, talking to local residents and sounding them out on the topic and apparently 60% of those they talked to are in favour of continuing fluoridation.

http://www.fairviewpost.com/2013/05/01/fluoridation-forum-not-decisive-time-will-tell-on-taxpayer-conclusions

By: Cathy Dobson, Sarnia Observer, Sarnia, Ontario 29-Apr-2013 –

Coun. Mike Kelch unexpectedly brought the issue up at the end of Monday’s council meeting, setting the stage for renewed public discussion.

“A lot has changed in the world since someone thought fluoride was a good thing to stick in drinking water,” Kelch said. “We are now trying to reduce the chemical burden on people.”

He said the “jury is out” on whether fluoridated water is harmful. But people these days are more conscious of what goes in their bodies than they were when fluoride was first added to Sarnia’s drinking water to fight tooth decay in the 1960s.

Local residents should now be given the right to determine if they want to consume it or not, he said.

Kelch began by making a motion for city council to direct the Lambton Area Water Supply System (LAWSS) to stop fluoridating local drinking water.

If council had voted on it Monday, there would have been no chance for public input.

Kelch agreed it was unusual to make such a significant motion without giving any notice but said he was taken off guard himself by a staff report in Monday’s council package that he received only four days prior.

That report said the LAWSS board wants to hear from its six member municipalities about adding fluoride before it commits to replacing its aging $300,000 fluoride system.

Coun. Jon McEachran, the city’s rep at LAWSS, said he wants to find out if local residents are in favour of fluoridation before spending the money.

McEachran voted against fluoridating water last time the question came to council in 2010.

“I’m still against it,” he said Monday. “I think we should err on the side of caution. It’s a dangerous chemical and there are a lot of unknowns. I suspect that one day we’ll see it wasn’t wise to add it.”

Kelch, who was absent for the 2010 vote that ended in a tie, said he isn’t in favour of fluoridated water either.

“Let’s provide the purest water available with the least amount of chemical added. How about that?” he said.

Mayor Mike Bradley has advocated for fluoride in the past.

He grew up in a community without fluoride in the water and has said he regrets that as an adult.

Bradley cautioned council about taking action on Kelch’s motion without any public debate.

“It’s unfair to have no discussion,” he said.

Adding fluoride to local water produced heated debate in the 60s and ultimately resulted in a plebiscite to allow Sarnians to vote on it.

Bradley said a plebiscite should be held again at the next election to see what the majority wants now.

Kelch agreed to table his motion and wait for a staff report to answer questions and possibly hold a public meeting.

“I recognize I didn’t provide notice. It’s a bit like dropping the bomb,” he said. “…I could have unleashed a thunderdome here.”

LAWSS provides drinking water to Sarnia, Point Edward, St.Clair Township, Plympton-Wyoming, Lambton Shores and Warwick Township.

In 2010, the LAWSS board relied on a weighted voting system since Sarnia consumes 70% of the water. If the weighted system is used again, Sarnia will have five votes, St. Clair two and the rest of the communities one each.

St. Clair Township’s council recently voted against fluoride use.

http://www.theobserver.ca/2013/04/29/kelch-says-chemical-use-should-be-a-choice

Le ministre de la Santé, Réjean Hébert, se dit clairement en faveur de la fluoration de l’eau, malgré les promesses électorales du Parti québécois disant qu’un gouvernement péquiste « modifiera la loi pour interdire la fluoration de l’eau potable ».

Jessica Nadeau, Le Nouvelliste, Le Devoir, Québec, 22-avril-2013 – Le ministre de la Santé, Réjean Hébert, se dit clairement en faveur de la fluoration de l’eau. « En fonction des données scientifiques démontrées, la fluoration de l’eau est considérée comme une bonne mesure de santé publique selon le ministre, notamment pour la prévention de la carie dentaire », affirme son attachée de presse, Arianne Lareau.

« Toutefois, conscient qu’il y a des divergences d’opinion à ce sujet, le ministre était ouvert à l’idée que la Commission de la santé se penche sur ce sujet », précise-t-elle à la demande du Devoir, à la veille des travaux qui s’ouvriront à Québec lundi.

Cette position va clairement à l’encontre du programme électoral du Parti québécois, dans lequel on pouvait lire qu’un gouvernement péquiste « modifiera la loi pour interdire la fluoration de l’eau potable ».

Fort de cette promesse, les opposants à la fluoration ont interpellé le gouvernement ces dernières semaines afin qu’il respecte son engagement, plus de sept mois après son élection.

Question d’éthique

Le mois dernier, la députée libérale de Richmond, Karine Vallières, a déposé à l’Assemblée nationale une pétition signée par un regroupement de citoyens de sa circonscription réclamant une commission parlementaire pour « faire la lumière sur les aspects scientifiques, sanitaires, économiques et légaux » de la fluoration de l’eau potable. Les signataires demandent aux parlementaires de « statuer sur la nécessité d’abolir le programme de fluoration de l’eau potable ».

Les opposants ont réussi à imposer leur agenda et pourront exprimer leur point de vue lundi et mardi dans le cadre d’une commission parlementaire.

« Le gouvernement doit prendre ses responsabilités en déposant une loi claire et interdire la fluoration de l’eau potable pour éviter les conflits locaux, sources de tensions inutiles dans les municipalités du Québec », écrit la Coalition Eau Secours dans son mémoire, dont Le Devoir a obtenu copie.

L’organisme, qui milite depuis plusieurs années pour sensibiliser les citoyens et élus municipaux aux risques de la fluoration, estime que « de nombreux arguments scientifiques contredisent la thèse selon laquelle les fluorures dans l’eau potable sont bénéfiques pour la santé publique et sans effet observable pour l’environnement ».

En entrevue, la présidente de l’organisme, Martine Chatelain, affirme que c’est d’abord et avant tout une question d’éthique puisqu’un citoyen vivant dans une ville où l’eau est fluorée n’a pas le choix d’en ingérer. « C’est une médication sans l’accord de la personne. C’est comme si on disait : on va ajouter du fluorure pour la carie dentaire, mais on trouve aussi que les gens ne sont pas assez de bonne humeur, on va leur mettre un peu de Prozac et pour le cancer, il y a tel produit… on va arriver à quoi ? C’est de l’eau potable, de l’eau pour boire, pas de l’eau pour soigner les gens ! »

Stratégie nationale

Plusieurs tenants de la fluoration viendront également partager leur avis sur la question. Les parlementaires entendront notamment l’Ordre des dentistes du Québec, de même que l’Institut national de santé publique du Québec (INSPQ), dont la stratégie nationale prévoyait de « mobiliser un vaste ensemble des partenaires » afin de rejoindre, par cette mesure préventive, plus de 50 % de la population du Québec.

Depuis 2005, l’INSPQ fait la promotion de la fluoration auprès des municipalités de plus de 5000 habitants, qui sont libres de choisir si elles acceptent ou non de fluorer l’eau aux frais de l’État. Dans plusieurs villes, comme à Mont-Joli, où le débat sera tranché par référendum lors des prochaines élections municipales, les représentants de l’INSPQ se heurtent à la résistance des opposants sur le terrain. « Plus les gens sont informés, plus ils sont contre », estime Martine Chatelain de la Coalition Eau secours.

Il y a quelques années à peine, la ministre des Ressources naturelles, Martine Ouellet, tenait le même discours. Car avant de se lancer en politique, c’est elle qui menait la bataille contre la fluoration de l’eau à titre de présidente de la Coalition Eau Secours.

Mais son collègue de la Santé et des Services sociaux, le docteur Réjean Hébert, penche plutôt du côté de l’INSPQ. Il en va de même pour le critique de l’opposition officielle, Yves Bolduc. « La position du Parti libéral, c’est de respecter l’opinion des experts et les experts, présentement, recommandent la fluoration de l’eau, répond l’ancien ministre de la Santé en entrevue. Mais quand on arrive en commission parlementaire, on arrive avec l’esprit d’écouter. Probablement que mardi soir, après avoir entendu tous les groupes, ça va nous permettre de nous faire une meilleure tête sur le sujet. »

http://www.ledevoir.com/politique/quebec/376292/fluoration-de-l-eau-quebec-a-un-prejuge-favorable?utm_source=infolettre-2013-04-22&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=infolettre-quotidienne

Talk of the Town, Town of Fairview News Letter Volume IV, Fairview, Alberta, April 2013 – Municipal Water Fluoridation is a “hot topic” these days. The Town of Fairview has been fluoridating its water since the late 50s, and was the first municipality in the province to do so. However, the practice is now being questioned and more and more municipalities are choosing to discontinue fluoridation. The Town’s elected officials and staff are anxious to learn the facts to determine whether this is the right thing to do and the implications of continuing with or ceasing fluoridation.

We are pleased to announce two eminent speakers have agreed to attend a town hall meeting to each bring their perspectives on the controversial issue of municipal water fluoridation.

This is a very important subject that effects everysingle resident in town as well as those who are on the rural water line.

Each of the speakers will be given timeto present their points, followed by a question period and time for coffee and discussion.

Dr. Albert de Villiers, MB ChB, M.Med (Community Health), North Zone Lead Medical Officer for Alberta Health will be speaking in favour of municipal water fluoridation:

Simple, safe, cost-effective. As more Albertans keep their teeth for life, everyone benefits from community water fluoridation, regardless of age, race, income, education level or access to professional dental care. The protection of fluoridation reaches community members in their homes, at work and at school – simply by drinking the water…..Dr. Albert de Villiers

Dr. James S. Beck, MD, PhD is Professor Emeritus of Medical Biophysics at the University of Calgary will speak against municipal water fluoridation:

We have been misinformed about fluoridation for a long time and new information that calls it into question has been ignored by authorities. The three central questions we have to deal with are: Is it safe? Is it effective? Is it ethical? Science

answers “no” to the first two questions and common sense and our best traditions answer “no” to the third. We have alternative methods that do help us with oral health…….Dr. James Beck

When and Where:  Tuesday, April 23 – 7:00 p.m. at the Legion Hall

Fairview’s municipal water fluoridation may be put to plebiscite (public vote) during the municipal election on October 21, 2013. There will be no better opportunity to educate yourself in order to make an informed decision on how to cast your vote.

http://www.fairview.ca/April%202013.pdf

ISRAEL ANNOUNCES END TO MANDATORY FLUORIDATION

By: The Hot Press Newsdesk, Hot Press, Dublin, Ireland 12-Apr-2013

Health Minister Yael German has decided to end the mandatory fluoridation of Israel’s drinking water within a year…

On Thursday, April 11, Israeli Health Minister Yael German signed off on historic regulations that negate the mandatory fluoridation of Israel’s drinking water.

As well as the decision to end tap water fluoridation, the regulations also call for reducing the permitted bacteria concentration in water to zero, and to increase water inspection. These new regulations are pending legal confirmation at the Ministry of Health, and will take effect starting in 2014.

Once these regulations are fully in place, Israel will join the likes of China, Germany, Holland, Sweden and France as countries that don’t have mandatory fluoridation of drinking water.

Central to this historic high court case is the work of scientist Declan Waugh. The respected scientist’s extensive reports have been at the forefront of the Hot Press anti-fluoridation campaign – and have also had a crucial role to play in the Israeli case.

German’s decision however has been met with protests from the Israeli Pediatric Association. They argue that ending mandatory fluoridation could harm children’s dental health.

In our recent Hot Press Open Letter To The Junior Minister For Health we addressed that argument put forward by the Israeli Pediatric Association and other pro-fluoridation bodies, and recommended a commonsense alternative strategy against the mandatory fluoridation of Irish drinking water.

We asked: Would it make more sense to target children with education for better dental hygiene and diet? And suggested the initiation of a campaign to get children to consume less sugar and take personal responsibility for care of their teeth.

In the new issue of Hot Press we continue investigating the fluoride issue, and reveal startling new evidence which suggests that the judgement in the 1963 constitutional case, taken against the mandatory fluoridation of water in Ireland, may have been unsound.

http://www.hotpress.com/Water-Fluoridation-in-Ireland/news/Israel-announces-end-to-mandatory-fluoridation/9699581.html?new_layout=1

New order drops water fluoridation requirement

By: Judy Siegel-Itzkovich, The Jerusalem Post, Jerusalem, Israel 12-Apr-2013

Health Minister German signs controversial regulations not requiring local fluoridation for drinking water; dentists say harmful.

As pediatricians and dentists charged that it would harm children’s dental well-being, Health Minister Yael German said Thursday that municipalities and local authorities would in a year no longer have to fluoridate their drinking water.

German, who previously as mayor of Herzliya opposed “forcing” residents to take the mineral with every drop they drink, said there were more effective and safer ways to protect children’s teeth – such as fluoride pills, toothpastes and education.

She said she signed new regulations for stricter supervision of water supplies that included canceling mandatory fluoridation. German then even appealed to the High Court of Justice against the Health Ministry’s requirement – since 2002 – that water be fluoridated in every authority with at least 5,000 residents.

But the Israel Pediatrics Society said that bringing the national fluoridation project to a halt in another year “is liable to harm children’s dental health. Adding fluoride is the safest, most efficient and egalitarian way of reducing the prevalence of dental caries. It also provides clear economic and social benefits.”

Even if parents don’t ensure their children’s health by brushing with toothpaste and avoiding sweets, even poor children will be protected, the society argued.

Society head Prof. Eli Somech and director-general Dr. Tzahi Grossman said they were “convinced that the procedure is safe and that 400 million people in 60 countries – especially the youngsters – benefit from an optimal level of fluoride in their drinking water.”

Many decades of research and public statements by governmental and nongovernmental organizations have “already announced publicly that they support the continuation of fluoridation. Among them are the World Health Organization, the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the American Medical Association and the American Pediatrics Academy. The WHO has even come out with a statement supporting the Israel Pediatrics Society in its position.

But German said that the regulations that require fluoridation have expired and that “professional views are in dispute.” She said that opponents of fluoridation claim it could cause osteoporosis, reduction of insulin efficacy in dealing with sugar, the accumulation of aluminum in the body, IQ reduction and fluorosis (spotting of teeth).

As the Health Ministry has responsibility for monitoring water quality, it is also responsible for monitoring on fluoridation.

Ministry director-general Prof.

Ronni Gamzu said that during the coming year, the ministry will invest funds to help the socioeconomically disadvantaged protect their teeth in other ways, if local authorities decide not to continue fluoridating their drinking water.

The voluntary organization Adam, Teva Ve’Din – which has for the last decade tried to change regulations regarding water standards, including better monitoring of contaminants – congratulated German on her decision, because water quality standards are “outdated.”

It said that during the coming year, there will be time for a public debate to decide if fluoridation is harmful or beneficial.

http://www.jpost.com/Health-and-Science/New-regulations-drop-water-fluoridation-requirement-309593