ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -The Albany Common Council held a public comment period before voting on Local Law K and Resolution 19.22.24R. They cover adding fluoride to the city’s water supply and determining if there will be harm to the environment.
Council chambers were filled with attendees listening and talking about the pros and cons of fluoride in water. Citizens say this topic has been a controversy for decades.
“For most of my life, I supported fluoride. I trusted the CDC and American Dental Association who said it was safe and effective. My trust was misplaced,” said an attendee against fluoride.
“I started (my practice) in 1974 in Guilderland. I see no ill effects on my family or the over 50,000 children I’ve treated in this community,” said an attendee for fluoride.
Those supporting the addition of fluoride urged the common council to listen to health care providers.
“We know that kids are disproportionately affected by the lack of fluoride in the water. Fluoridation can cause a decrease in dental carries on the order of about 25-30%,” explained Elizabeth Whalen, M.D. and P.H.
Those against adding fluoride argued citizens should be able to choose how to care for themselves when it comes to health concerns.
“Two weeks ago, I presented stats from the Department of Health showing no relationship in New York between the percent of fluoridation by county and percent of tooth decay. The graph clearly shows this,” explained an attendee against fluoride.
Albany’s Water Commissioner previously told NEWS10 that adding fluoride would not be difficult and would not be a major expense. The Department of Health still needs to sign off on the project.
“Folks who are exposed to more syrup and children who don’t have two physicians as parents won’t do as well,” stated an attendee for fluoride.
“Fluoride is not a nutrient. It is not required for any bodily function, unlike real nutrients like Vitamin D, Calcium, Magnesium, and Iodine,” stated an attendee against fluoride.
The council voted unanimously to add fluoride to the water and that through their studies there will be no harmful environmental impact.
Original article online at: https://www.news10.com/news/albany-common-council-votes-to-add-fluoride-to-citys-water-supply/
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