Edmonton-area residents will soon have less fluoride in their tap water, thanks to Health Canada.

Capital Health’s Dr. Gerry Predy told Sun Media that he will ask EPCOR, which provides water to the city and surrounding communities, to reduce the maximum amount of the chemical that it adds to the water supply, from 0.8 parts per million to 0.7 ppm.

EPCOR spokesman Mike Gibbs said the utility company is awaiting the request, and while nothing has been decided, senior management have never refused to cooperate with health authorities.

“(Reducing fluoride is) not a difficult thing to do,” Gibbs said.

“We can make the change in less than an hour.”

Said Predy: “we get along pretty well.”

The move comes after an expert panel commissioned by Health Canada to study the effects of fluoride exposure called for the reduction across the country.

For decades, fluoride has been added to toothpaste and municipal water supplies to help fight cavities, and traces can also be found in infant formula.

The expert panel fears children may be getting too much of the chemical, so it’s calling on the government cut the maximum recommended amount of fluoride in drinking water.

Health Canada has accepted the recommendation to reduce the maximum to 0.7 ppm.

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