I am not an alarmist and I DO believe that the City of Beaumont does a good job in making sure that when the Water Department adds FLUORIDE into our drinking water, it makes certain that the levels added do not exceed the recommended dosage prescribed by TCEQ and other regulatory authorities. However, given the choice, I would rather FLUORIDE not be added to the water I am drinking that is provided by the City of Beaumont. Why?
For starters, you can Google information produced by the International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology, which outlines the potential for serious and sometimes fatal consequences from the ingestion of too much fluoride. The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology is a global network of dentists, health professionals, and scientists who research the bio-compatibility of dental products, including the risks of mercury fillings and fluoride. It is a proven fact that FLUORIDE is hazardous and can cause toxicity. I acknowledge that there is a huge debate that rages on the subject between the dentists affiliated with the American Dental Association and those affiliated with IAOMT. I am not going to wade into that debate because it is extremely controversial and you can find experts and opinions on both sides of the issue.
But here is where I stand — citizens deserve clean and safe drinking water. Cities started to add FLUORIDE into their drinking water in the 1940s with the belief that it could help prevent cavities in children. But since that time, FLUORIDE has become readily available in toothpastes and mouthwashes and can in fact, contribute to overall exposure levels. But the point is that you can choose to buy toothpaste or mouthwashes that have FLUORIDE contained in them, or not. You don’t get that choice with your city water. If you want water that does not contain FLUORIDE in Beaumont, you have to buy bottled water. Not everyone can afford bottled water.
So, after trying for years to get to get the City of Beaumont to reconsider whether or not to keep putting FLUORIDE in the water, YOU the citizen may get the opportunity to weigh in. Your City Council is set to vote next week* on whether or not we should include a referendum in the May election on whether or not to keep adding FLUORIDE to the City water supply. Part of the discussion will be whether it should be a binding referendum or a non-binding referendum. I believe it should be binding based on what the citizens want.
Now here is some interesting information. Did you know, that in 1954 when the city of Beaumont was first considering whether or not to inject FLUORIDE into the water supply that the City Council at that time placed the matter on the ballot in the form of a referendum and it was REJECTED by a 2-1 margin? But that in 1970, the City Council at that time, WITHOUT GOING TO THE VOTERS, decided to start injecting FLUORIDE into the water supply?
Another piece of interesting information that occurred just a few years ago and since I have been on City Council. The city of Beaumont had to conduct an emergency repair operation on the main water line at the water treatment plant at the site where FLUORIDE is injected into the water supply because this caustic chemical had eaten through the 72 inch iron pipe! This is an absolute fact and it cost over half a million dollars to make those repairs. So, you have to wonder what this chemical can do to your body.
At any rate, I support putting this matter before the citizens for a referendum vote on the May ballot.
Mike Getz
*Original full-text article online at: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/opinions/letters/article/fluoride-beaumont-water-go-voters-17783869.php