Fluoridation Frenzy
From
California to New York,
citizens
have taken political action to stop what they perceive as the poisoning
of
municipal water systems. That people want safe drinking water is no
surprise. What
is startling is that this alleged poisoning of the water has been
hailed by the
Center for Disease Control as one of the ten greatest public health
achievements of the 21st century. (http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/)
70%
of Americans live in areas that fluoridate their drinking water (http://liveshots.blogs.foxnews.com/2010/04/16/dont-drink-the-water/).
Fluoridation, or adding small amounts of fluoride to drinking water,
has been
practiced in the United States for 65 years. Advocates of water
fluoridation
include the American Dental Association, many dentists, public health
officials, citizens, and organizations like the American Association of
Family
Physicians and the American Council on Science and Health. They claim
that
municipal water fluoridation is a safe, economical, and effective
measure of
preventing dental cavities and promoting public health. Opponents of
water
fluoridation, who include the EPA Headquarters Union of Scientists,
some dentists,
public health officials, concerned citizens, and organizations such as
the
Fluoride Action Network, claim that fluoridation has minimal benefits
and
serious risks. They point to a growing body of evidence that blames
fluoridation for health effects ranging from dental fluorosis to cancer.
This
website explores a series of questions worthy of investigation
surrounding the
fluoride controversy. What is the current state of water fluoridation
in the
United States? Why is fluoridation such a divisive issues? And how is
it that
after 50 years of momentum in favor of fluoridation, the
anti-fluoridation
movement is finally starting to gain ground?
Ultimately,
it is evident that the science behind water fluoridation is disputed.
It seems
unlikely that people of differing opinions will be able to reach
agreement
while they still disagree on the facts. As such, it may be necessary
for a reputable third party to perform a comprehensive scientific
review of
the
benefits and dangers of fluoridation. In the meantime, it seems best
to
continue to let citizens have a say, through democratic processes, in
whether
or not fluoride is right for their community.
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Many people are concerned about flouride
exposure from their tap water.
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