Refiners unnecessarily put millions at risk

WASHINGTON – Some U.S. refineries are using an extremely hazardous chemical that threatens the health and safety of millions of people even though there is a cost-effective and less toxic alternative, a consumer advocacy group said Thursday. The Public Interest Research Group, an advocate of stronger environmental and consumer protection laws, is urging Congress to […]

Powdery chemical covers cars in East Fishkill

HOPEWELL JUNCTION — A baseball-sized clump of a potentially dangerous chemical was released last month at a local manufacturing plant, worrying employees whose cars were covered by the chemical. The “spill” happened on July 7 at the East Fishkill IBM and Philips Semiconductor campus, according to internal documents from IBM and Philips. About 80 cars […]

Mandatory fluoridation battle not over

While a bill requiring the fluoridation of public water supplies in Arkansas did not pass in this year’s session of the Arkansas General Assembly, proponents of the proposal are not giving up. “We are going to do this again, and if we have to, we are going to do it again and we’re going to […]

Anti-fluoridation leader to speak Thursday, Friday

A national leader in anti-fluoridation efforts will speak Thursday and Friday in Bellingham at events organized by people opposing a proposal to fluoridate Bellingham’s drinking water. Paul Connett, executive director of Fluoride Action Network and professor of environmental chemistry at St. Lawrence University, will be among the panelists at a public forum at Broadway Hall […]

Water district that dropped fluoride reconsidering after outcry

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Oral surgeon Jonathan Hanson was reading a routine water quality report produced annually by the local water district when he noticed the fluoride level seemed unusually low. So Hanson, who helped persuade officials to start fluoridating the water in the 1980s, began calling around. What he learned shocked some dentists, doctors […]

No to Fluoridation Bill

A BILL before the Massachusetts Legislature seeks to force water fluoridation upon virtually every community in the state. The bill would deprive local boards of health and citizens of the right to choose or not choose fluoridation. Fluoridation has been a controversial idea from its inception. People on both sides of the issue oppose this […]

After much contention, Joplin to begin getting fluoride in water

JOPLIN, Mo. – Despite continued objections from some citizens, Joplin’s water system will begin getting fluoride next week, the city’s water supplier said. Missouri-American Water Co. is sending notices about the upcoming fluoridation in bills mailed to customers, saying it will begin putting fluoride in the water in August. A spokeswoman for the water company, […]

Revisiting fluoride

It’s a good thing that the Legislature failed to act on House Bill 2025, which would require cities with 10,000 or more people to fluoridate their water supplies. The House had approved this bill. Among the no votes was that of Rep. Jeff Kropf, the Republican representing east Linn County. He wisely believes that people […]

Franklin to revisit fluoride in water

A 60-year-old debate about whether to add cavity-fighting fluoride to cities’ water supplies is boiling over in Franklin. Weeks after the city’s water director resigned amid allegations of poor record-keeping and other infractions, town leaders are hearing from a local anti-fluoride activist who says they ought to focus on what’s in the water. And they’re […]