The City of Milton has heard a plea to stop adding fluoride to its drinking water.
On Monday, Aug. 27, Dawn Chase of Okaloosa St., in Milton, addressed the city council about her concerns over the city adding fluoride to its drinking water.
Fluoride is both an organic and inorganic compound that range from potent toxins such as sarin to life-saving pharmaceuticals such as efavirenz.
Water fluoridation, which Chase is questioning, is a practice that occurs in English-speaking countries, while other countries fluoridate salt.
The fluoridate water works on tooth surfaces and creates low levels of fluoride in saliva to reduce the rate at which tooth enamel erodes thus slowing the rate of tooth decay.
Chase, who said she has thyroid problems, cited several issues she feels has been caused by the city adding fluoride to its drinking water.
“I am concerned about this because it can lead to osteoporosis and the break down of collagen in the body,” Chase said. “Fluoride is also used as an insecticide and roach killer.
“Some toothpates and mouthwashes use fluoride, but this is a byproduct from aluminum manufacturers and fertilizer manufacturing.”
According to Milton City Manager Brian Watkins, the City of Milton has stopped adding fluoride to the water in 2006 when the equipment used to do so had become outdated and inoperable at the city water plant.
In 2007 the City of Milton received a grant with the help of the Santa Rosa County Health Department to get the equipment to start again and enough fluoride for one year.
Sept. 2008 the city resumed adding fluoride to the water and has done so ever since, with they received yet another grant with the aid of the Santa Rosa County Health Department to purchase another year’s supply of fluoride.
Chase during her comments urged council members to do their homework on the matter and do more research.
“Fluoride attacks the auto immune system of people and also can cause severe asthma,” Chase said. “I have lived here for 13 years and just now I am having asthma problems.
“I would appreciate water free from fluoride. Why should I pay for water when I can’t drink it.”
Watkins said he plans on taking the matter addressed by Chase to the Public Works Committee to see what they would like to do on the matter, but noted no one said anything to him after the council meeting on Aug. 27 or since then.
Before the fluoride system was replaced the City of Milton had added fluoride to its water from 1986 to 2006.
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