Proposition 2 - Fluoridation of City Water

Statement in Support
by Karen Lawfer, Citizens Promoting Dental Health
Citizens Promoting Dental Health, a local group of dentists, doctors, parents, and concerned citizens, urge you to vote “Yes” on Proposition 2. This proposition reinstates the fluoridation of Juneau’s community water supply to levels recommended by the U.S. Public Health Service. Prior to January 2007, Juneau’s community water supply had been fluoridated since the 1970’s.

Community water fluoridation is recognized as one of the top ten public health accomplishments of the 20th Century by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and is recognized as a positive measure to prevent tooth decay by over 100 local, state, U.S. and International organizations working on dental and public health issues. This list includes the Juneau Dental Society, the Juneau Medical Society, Alaska State Dental Society, American Medical Association, American Dental Association, U.S. Public Health Service, CDC, American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and the World Health Organization.

Community water fluoridation has been a practice in the United States for more than 60 years. Extensive scientific study proves it to be safe and effective to reduce tooth decay. Currently more than 2/3 of the population in the United States benefit from community water fluoridation. Facts about fluoride and community water fluoridation:

1. Fluoride is found naturally in water throughout the world. It is classified as a naturally occurring element and a nutrient (Dietary Reference
Intakes, National Academy Press).
2. Community water fluoridation supplements water to levels identified by the U.S. Public Health Service to be safe and to prevent tooth decay.
3. Community water fluoridation benefits people of all ages, education, and income levels.
4. On average, it is estimated that for every $1 a community spends on water fluoridation, $38 in dental treatment costs are saved. Not only
does water fluoridation prevent the pain and suffering of cavities, it also saves us money as patients and taxpayers.
5. Dental health is a critical component of overall health and well-being. Untreated tooth decay can have medical as well as psychological
effects.
6. Fluoride is used throughout the world. The World Health Organization supports community water fluoridation. In areas where there are no
water systems fluoridated salt is used.

Opponents have made allegations that misrepresent facts about fluoride. They often cite studies that use levels 4-times that of the level recommended by the U.S Public Health Service or that are obscure or from foreign countries that have not been reviewed or cannot be replicated.

Citizens Promoting Dental Health was formed to assist Juneau’s dentists and doctors who have seen the positive results of Juneau’s 30+ years of community water fluoridation. They, together with a broad coalition of concerned citizens want to make sure all community members benefit from one of the most important public health advances of our lifetime.

If you would like more information about community water fluoridation please ask your dentist or doctor or you can visit www.juneausmiles.org.
Juneau voters should vote “Yes” to Proposition 2, to bring back community water fluoridation.


Statement in Opposition
by David Ottoson, Juneau Citizens for Safe Water
Fluoride is not an essential element for human health. The notion that an “optimal” dose can be delivered through the water system is a myth. Sodium fluoride is classified as a hazardous waste, and would be illegal to dump into a lake or stream. Yet this proposition proposes that it be dumped into our drinking water. We urge that you vote NO for the following reasons:

* The effectiveness of fluoridated water is questionable. While fluoridation promoters point to a decline in tooth decay since the advent of fluoridation, decay has declined both in places that fluoridate and those that don’t. According to the World Health Organization, dental health in 12-year olds in non-fluoridated industrialized countries is as good, if not better, than those in fluoridated countries. The largest study ever conducted in the U.S. on fluoridation found that the difference in the number of decayed teeth between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities was negligible. Research clearly indicates whatever benefits fluoride conveys are primarily topical, not systemic. It is not necessary to drink fluoridated water to benefit from it.

* The safety of fluoridated water is questionable. In 2006, a 500-page review of fluoride’s toxicology by a distinguished panel appointed by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences was published. The NRC panel identified many research studies in which animals or humans drinking water close to the level used for fluoridation showed numerous adverse health effects. These included: bone fractures, decreased thyroid function, impaired glucose tolerance, brain cell damage, lowered IQ, kidney damage, arthritic-like conditions, symptoms characteristic of Alzheimer’s disease, and cancer.

The risk to infants and children is of particular concern. The Environmental Working Group recently reported that infants and young children are at a three to four times higher risk of overexposure to fluoride than adults. According to the National Academy of Sciences, standard chemicals are up to ten times more toxic to children than adults, depending on body weight. This is because children absorb more toxic chemicals relative to body weight, and their developing organ systems are more vulnerable to toxic chemicals.

* Compulsory fluoridation deprives people of free choice. When fluoride is added to water, people can no longer choose not to consume it. Fluoridation supporters say that fluoride is no different from other things that are added to water, such as chlorine. This is simply not true. Chlorine is intended to treat the water. Fluoride, on the other hand, is intended to treat the people who drink the water. That’s a big difference.

There are plenty of ways people who want fluoride can get it, including toothpastes, gels, mouth rinses and supplements. This is preferable to the blunderbuss approach of compulsory fluoridation, which dictates that everyone ingest fluoride whether they want it or not.

The public water system is a cumbersome and potentially hazardous way to deliver a substance intended as a medication.

We have some of the purest, cleanest water available anywhere. Let’s keep it that way. Vote NO on Proposition 2.