Newbies Revive Oldies - How Retro

Reading the KC Star yesterday, I came across an Opinion letter opposing fluoridation of public supplies. Having been associated with the management of public water supplies over a 30-year stint, I am well aware of the basis for fluoridation and the myriad falsehoods that are perpetuated about its alleged ill-effects. The attack on fluoridation was a staple in the John Birch Society's tirades. However, fluoridation continues and expands, although there are cases when hysteria has caused it to be abandoned or left unimplemented. It is interesting that the issue persists, despite all efforts to put it away. This can happen only because persons new to the controversy pick up debunked allegations against fluoridation and repeat them as if they have discovered a new conspiracy by "government" to harm Americans.

The letter alleges that fluoridation started in 1945. In truth, it's older than dirt and the 1945 date is bogus. Fluoride is found naturally in some potable water supplies. The discovery was made that children and, by extension, adults who drank fluoridated water had fewer cavities than people who drank water with no or very little fluoride. Ergo, fluoride was added to water supplies to obtain its benefits, better oral health. No ill-effects were observed in populations with naturally fluoridated water. Thus, the letter writer's assertion that fluoridation is unethical and ineffective is wrong, because it promotes a public good, fewer cavities.

The writer alleges studies that have shown "levels of fluoride in most American cities is high enough to cause brain damage especially in young children". No evidence is provided to support this extreme claim, although one would expect health authorities to be cognizant of such an effect and to have taken remedial action. The writer even cites a Web site, www.fuoridealert.org, for more information. The site sponsored by a group calling itself the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), a group founded in 2000 which since 2004 has been associated with the American Environmental Health Studies Project, also a 501(c)(3) founded by activists studying radiation effects, for legitimacy. Bed fellows make strange politics.

The letter also calls fluoridation a "medication" that low-income families are forced to "ingest", because they cannot afford cleaner water. First, fluoride is not medicine. It's a mineral. Secondly, potable water, unless distilled and processed for mineral removal, contains numerous minerals, all regulated by Clean Drinking Water standards of the EPA and enforced by State health departments. The writer suggests a government conspiracy is responsible for fluoridation. Well,that does it for me. I classify this opposition to fluoride along with "Birthers" and other conspiracy finders.