Categories: Need to know

Calgary’s water could soon be fluoride-free

Council committee votes to stop using cavity-fighting additive

by macleans.ca on Thursday, January 27, 2011 11:42am - 9 Comments

After a few dozen Calgary residents protested against fluoride in the water, a council committee voted to end the city’s use of the additive in the water, which helps prevent cavities. A 10.5 hour public hearing was held Wednesday about fluoride, with the University of Calgary’s faculty of medicine offering to strike an advisory panel to review studies about it, the Calgary Herald reports. The committee rejected the offer but some say it may be reconsidered. A plebiscite brought in fluoridation in Calgary in 1991, and it’s now added to city water at 0.7 parts per million. Calgarians offered arguments, scientific research and opinions on each side of the divisive issue.

Calgary Herald

Tags: Fluoride

dave

Apparently Calgarian's fear for their precious bodily fluids….

James

I guess this is equivalent to post "first" nowadays? Great contribution!

http://www.thegrowopshop.com Chris

This is a miracle! I'm so excited for Calgarians right now. Government has actually done something to protect its citizens.
JoeC

As much as I love that bit in Dr. Strangelove (Dave is referencing it), it's unfortunate that the crazy general in the film wasn't totally wrong – there is no reliable evidence that fluoride prevents cavities or tooth decay. For anyone who wants to get rid of that crap in their water, Berkey sells water filtration systems with optional fluoride filters (Google "Big Berkey").

James

Fluoride prevents cavities or tooth decay when applied topically. Ingestion of fluoride has not been proven to prevent either, and in fact, given sufficient amounts, can result in fluorosis which damages bones, including teeth. The problem with fluoride in drinking water is that the population is getting an uncontrolled dose of fluoride, which is usually listed as a medically "active ingredient" (look at the label of your fluoride toothpaste). It is unwise to consume a medically active ingredient in uncontrolled doses.

Roger

What is the population of Calgary? Half million perhaps? And a "few dozen" citizens were able to bring this about? Nonsense.

turniponabike

So you noticed how the writer of this article says "a few dozen", and then uses these words "which helps prevent cavities". Looks like our reporter is trying dumb-down this article. Reading the comments right here I have learned more then I knew about the subject and for years I haven't been able to drink the water in Calgary without filtering it. There is a bad after taste. Kinda reminds me of aspartame of which I also can not do.

guest

A few dozen, my ass! Not to mention that the population has been medicated with the crap for 20 years now, so not that surprising if they're all too dumbed-down to care that the water is poisoned. Calgary's population is well over a million, has been for many years.

"Fluorine is the most reactive and most electronegative of the elements, making elemental flourine a dangerously powerful oxidant" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorine