Hillsboro residents will soon vote on whether to add fluoridation chemicals to their water. Clean Water Hillsboro, an all-volunteer coalition of professional and lay advocates, strongly urges a no vote on this ballot measure, 34-338.

Two weeks ago, in a landmark decision, the federal district court of Northern California, after a seven-year lawsuit against the Environmental Protection Agency for allowing fluoridation, ruled that it “poses an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children …” The court ordered the EPA to adopt rules that would eliminate this risk, which would include the possibility of ending it nationwide.

Numerous cities across the country aren’t waiting for the EPA. Upon learning of the court’s decision, Yorktown and Somers, New York, and Abilene, Texas, have already stopped it, and its cessation is being discussed in Davis County, Utah, Naples, Florida, and many others. This is only the beginning.

The federal court ruling follows another historic achievement. The National Toxicology Program has the highest-level scientific review committee in the country on the subject. Its comprehensive report, published in August, consistently linked higher fluoride levels to lower IQs in children. Studies show it’s primarily through infants consuming formula mixed with fluoridated water and pregnant women passing along this neurotoxin to their unborn children.

The numbers in the NTP report are compelling. Sixty-four out of 72 studies linked higher fluoride with lower IQs, with 18 out of the 19 highest-rated studies finding this link — many at levels in fluoridated water or slightly above. Eight out of nine studies linked higher fluoride with other neurotoxic harm, including ADHD.

Despite this overwhelming scientific evidence, fluoridation promoters still spread the myth that fluoridation is proven safe for everyone. Nothing could be further from the truth.

More progressive organizations heed the scientific warnings, such as the American Academy of Environmental Medicine; Center for Health, Environment and Justice; International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology; Food and Water Watch, League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) and many others.

Although some neighboring water districts currently fluoridate, Oregon has been a national leader in recognizing the dangers and ineffectiveness of this practice, with only 22% drinking fluoridated water. In the last two elections, huge majorities — Democrats, Republicans and Independents alike — have voted against it, 61% to 39% in Portland in 2013 and 64% to 36% in Newport in 2016.

From a broader perspective, fluoridation is one of the most widely rejected health interventions in the world. Out of 196 countries, only 24 have any fluoridation and only 10, like the U.S., for more than half their population. Nearly 98% of Europeans drink unfluoridated water, with many nations, including France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Sweden, prohibiting it.

One of the strongest arguments against fluoridation is that it takes away our choice. When used to prevent cavities, fluoride is a drug, as defined by the FDA. Virtually all drugs can have harmful side effects. If people want fluoride, they can choose toothpaste, mouthwashes and other topical sources. But no one should be forced to ingest a drug through the drinking water.

It’s especially unfair for low-income families, including many in communities of color, who can’t afford expensive filters or bottled water to avoid it. They would have no choice whatsoever. It is unethical that Hillsboro residents would be forced to drink water that has been scientifically and legally determined to put their children at risk.

And for what? Fluoridation is minimally effective, if at all, in preventing cavities. There is a consensus that fluoride’s preventive actions are mainly topical, not ingested. Even the promoters’ outdated, dubious claims that it reduces cavities by 25% only equates to about half a cavity per child. The largest, highest-quality, most recent studies found only a miniscule 2-3% reduction, not even statistically significant. And according to World Health Organization data, there is no difference at all in cavity rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated countries.

Fluoridation is a house of cards and it’s already falling. It makes no sense for Hillsboro to go backwards and approve fluoridation when it’s obvious that the science, the courts, other cities and other nations have already moved ahead to a safer, healthier fluoridation-free future.

Please protect your families and make sure Hillsboro is on the right side of history by voting no on fluoridation.

Staci Whitman, DMD, IFMCP, is a Portland-based triple board certified pediatric dentist. She has many Hillsboro patients. Rick North is the former executive vice president (CEO) of the Oregon chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Original article online at: https://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/opinion/opinion-vote-no-on-hillsboro-fluoride-measure-minerals-minimal-benefits/article_4aed4edc-826f-11ef-8305-aba922ce7915.html