Halton Region’s medical officer of health calls arguments for stopping water fluoridation nonsense.

“The body of world literature in no uncertain terms shows fluoridation to be safe and effective,” Dr. Bob Nosal said after council put off a decision on the issue.

Referring to anti-fluoride delegations heard last week, Nosal said: “Much of what they are saying is pure nonsense, it is exaggerated facts, it is misrepresentation of the facts.

“Many of the statements are not applicable to the low, moderate level of fluoride we have in the water.”

He referred to a United States study used by some speakers showing adverse effects where fluoride is four parts per million.

“I agree with that statement, but our level is point six (0.6) It’s much, much lower.”

Halton council was to hear more delegations and to decide this week on whether to end fluoridation after current supplies are exhausted.

When council members arrived, they were greeted by a table of information packages, some from delegates expecting to be present.

Several councillors said they needed adequate time to review them.

Councillor Clark Somerville of Halton Hills said they would otherwise be skimming the documents between presentations and not giving them due attention.

Council decided that the health and social services committee would, in early December, decide on a date for a special workshop where councillors will hear delegations and hold a discussion without making a decision.

Councillor Jeff Knoll said the workshop could end up being put off to January. The decision on a date will reflect other factors, such as when the federal and provincial governments will be releasing results of their own reviews on fluoridation. Council chambers was packed with people wishing to speak, many opposed to the issue and disappointed to have travelled to the meeting in vain.

“Today I was going to present the one thing they hadn’t heard last time,” said Aliss Terpstra, 56, a Toronto nutritionist.

“I’m a fluoride-poisoned person. They had not heard from an actual victim of fluoride poisoning.”

Terpstra says she was one of the “guinea pig” babies in Grand Rapids, Mich., the first city in the world to fluoridate its water supply in 1945. High fluoride levels can cause mottled teeth. The effect was first noted in Colorado where it occurs naturally in the water.

Hamilton’s board of health will look at alternatives to fluoridation next Monday.

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