Your drinking water will continue to have fluoride added to it.

A majority of city councillors agreed with doctors, including the country’s top dentist, who continue to argue for the fluoridation of Cornwall’s water supply.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, the local medical officer of health, was joined by Dr. Peter Cooney, chief dental officer of Canada, before city council Monday night and convinced a majority of councillors to continue with the fluoridation of our water.

It was the second presentation the doctors have made to councillors on the subject – in direct contrast to some local critics who are arguing against fluoridation. Last fall council was asked to consider eliminating the addition of fluoride to our drinking water, which set off alarm bells in the medical community.

The doctors spent part of Monday touring the local water treatment plant, where fluoridation takes place. The doctors were pleased with the protocols undertaken at the plant to ensure our water quality is safe.

“There is no danger that justifies removing the potential health benefits for 40,000 or 50,000 people in this area,” said Roumeliotis.

Coun. Glen Grant, an opponent of water fluoridation, said he has spoken with a retired water filtration worker who suggests hydrofluorosilicic acid (HSFA), which is added to our water, is a dangerous product and needs to be removed from the facility.

“He told me ‘If you could the workers in there a favour, get rid of the (HSFA),’” said Grant, who wanted the material provided from the doctors referred to city managers for a report.

But he found opposition from many councillors, who argued the doctors present at the meeting provided the best knowledge available.

And it should be noted the HSFA is contained in a vat and controlled by automatic valves – away from employees who could be in danger if they come into contact with it.

“I understand we always look for our employee safety, but there are no concerns here,” said Coun. Andre Rivette. “I don’t think we should try to mess with something that isn’t broken.”

Coun. David Murphy pointed to several large Canadian cities, including Calgary and Moncton, where city councils have voted to remove fluoridation.

“We’re not breaking new ground by thinking of doing this…why is it so bad if decide to jump on this idea?” he asked.

Cooney responded by pointing to media reports out of Calgary, where some dentists are now seeing more and larger cavities.

– END-

Note from FAN:
Cornwall is less than a mile downwind (as the crow flies) to two aluminum plants located in Massena, New York, and the source for the high levels of fluoride found in a 1998 study on foliage and soil levels there.  It abuts the St. Lawrence River at the junction named an Area of Concern in the Great Lakes basin for mercury and PCB contamination. It also is a city that has contamination issues from from past heavy industrial practices. Statistics from Health Canada report that Cornwall residents have significantly more health problems than most of Ontario’s other cities.
– EC

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