On November 9, 2008, NJ's Assembly Health Committee gave it's OK to legislation (Bill number A3709) that would enact mandatory fluoridation throughout the state.

For several years NJ has been a target for mandatory fluoridation as "only" 22% of residents currently receive fluoridated water. (Hawaii has the lowest fluoridation ranking of all states at 8.4%.)

Twelve states (CA, CT, DE, GA, IL, KY, LA, MN, NE, NV, OH, SD) and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have laws intended to provide statewide fluoridation - see Mandatory State Laws on Fluoridation.

Over the years there have been many unsuccessful efforts to increase fluoridation in NJ. For example, an ACSH 1997 press release, one of the most corporate-friendly anti-environmental groups in the US stated:

"Scientists and physicians from the American Council on Science and Health
have urged New Jersey Governor Christine Todd Whitman
to vigorously promote community water fluoridation in New Jersey..."

In 1992, an important study by Perry Cohn PhD, was released by the NJ Department of Health. It reported a significant age-specific association between osteosarcoma and fluoride in males under age twenty who lived in fluoridated areas compared to those living in non-fluoridated areas in seven central New Jersey counties - see full pdf report.

Note: Cohn's report was first released under the title: A brief report on the association of drinking water fluoridation and the incidence of osteosarcoma among young males. However, the title was quckly changed to An epidemiologic report on drinking water and fluoridation.

SOME BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

• Fluoridated Water Supplies in New Jersey (2003)

• NJ Water Supplies with Naturally Occurring Fluoride (2003)

• 1992 information from CDC's Fluoridation Census on natural & fluoridated levels in NJ water supplies.

• Public Community Water Supplies in NJ with Naturally Occurring Fluoride at or near Optimal Concentrations, 2003

• Perry Cohn's 1992 report on the incidence of osteosarcoma among young males in seven NJ counties.

• FAN's NJ NewsTracker.

NJ GROUPS WORKING ON FLUORIDATION:

• Contact Nancy Coleman at New Jersey Citizens Opposing Forced Fluoridation (NJCOFF).