| Mr. Locke, in his article "Patriots on Guard hit the streets to fight fluoridation" (May 31 issue), neglects to inform readers of his long personal entanglement in the issue, in particular his lost legal battles over the right of the city to adjust the level of fluoride in water to improve health. Therefore, it is not surprising that the article misleads, and glosses over some important points about the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation.
With fluoridation the city adjusts the level of fluoride in the water to 0.7 parts per million (ppm) from the naturally occurring levels between 0.2 to 0.3 ppm found in the Bow and Elbow Rivers. Fluoride is natural – common in soil, rivers, oceans, and in plants and fish.
Voters approved fluoridation twice in the last several years (1989 and 1998). It is supported by the World Health Organization, the Canadian Medical and Dental Associations, and many other professional organizations which monitor research on this issue. The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta identified water fluoridation as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century. (MMWR October 22, 1999, www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm484la.htm).
An important and thorough systematic review of international research on water fluoridation was published late in 2000. The York University (U.K.) report evaluated 50 years of studies and found that fluoridation does work to reduce tooth decay, and that there is no good evidence of adverse health effects. It’s unfortunate that such well done and well respected work is not reported in your publication. Your readers can access the report at www.york.ac.uk/inst/crd/fluorid.htm.
The Calgary Health Region reviews new information as it becomes available to ensure that the practices that we recommend and support are safe and effective. Health is precious. Part of my role as medical officer of health is to advocate for measures that protect and improve health. Calgarians have decided to act together as a community in controlling the level of fluoride in the drinking water, for the benefit of their children and themselves. One of the important benefits of water fluoridation is it helps to protect those who are not able to protect themselves.
Brent T. Friesen, M.D., F.R.C.P.C.
Medical Officer of Health, Calgary Health Region
|
