YORK COUNTY, Pa. — Fluoridated water continues to be discussed in municipalities across South Central Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg Borough Council voted to no longer add fluoride to its public water system earlier this week.
Hanover Borough’s Water and Sewer Committee is scheduled to discuss potentially removing the chemical at the next public meeting on Thursday.
“It basically incorporates into the matrix of the enamel as it’s forming,” explained Doctor Robert Henke with Hanover Family Practice Associates.
Dr. Henke practices in the borough and has voiced his support to keep fluoride before. He says fluoride is a naturally occurring chemical that is safe and effective in proper doses.
“I think most people, most physicians, dentists, and public health people will agree fluoride strengthens your teeth permanently if you start as a child,” Dr. Henke said.
Hanover’s Director of Planning and Engineering, Eric Mains, cited supply and costs as reasons for ending the practice at the last town hall meeting.
“From a cost perspective, the use of fluoride right now costs the borough about $32,000; we’re paying right now about $0.40 per pound, the average cost through 2023 was about $0.30 per pound prior,” Mains explained.
Dr. Henke says the price is worth the benefit.
“In talking at the meeting it sounds like it works out to be about a dollar per person per year to have fluoride in our water; there’s also some upgrades in our equipment as I understand, but there’s also a person who spoke at the meeting who said there are grants available to help with that equipment.”
Mains also referenced staff safety when handling the chemical, although Henke is not convinced.
“I don’t know of any OSHA problems based on putting fluoride in the water,” Henke said.
The topic is expected to be discussed at the borough’s next town hall meeting on the May 27, and it is unknown if a final decision will be made.
FOX43 contacted the Water and Sewer Committee for comment and were deferred to the Borough Manager.
Borough Manager, Margaret Lewis wrote, “staff and council members do not speak on matters in advance of council decisions.”
Original article online at: https://www.fox43.com/article/news/local/hanover-borough-continues-discussions-of-whether-to-end-use-of-fluoride-community-public/521-60dbd795-df02-4f64-8459-907bcca27160