Re: Dental association favours fluoridation — Oct. 3

The comments by Dr. Ira Kirshen, president of the Ontario Dental Association (ODA), about artificial water fluoridation only continues the tradition of making broad appeals to authority figures without providing supportive science.

If the ODA wishes us to believe fluoridated drinking water containing hydrofluorosilicic acid and its trace co-contaminants arsenic, lead, mercury and radionuclides are good for people, please show us the source science which proves that.

Those “respected bodies such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the United Nations” have used the same promises of safety and effectiveness since 1945, without providing evidence that I can see of peer-reviewed hard-science substantiating their claims. So, what is the “chapter and verse” that Kirshen claims he can quote?

Waterloo’s city and regional websites contain no source science proving water fluoridated with hydrofluorosilicic acid causes any reduction in dental caries, let alone that it is safe. Citizens will need the science to be able to make a good decision. Will this science be available soon enough for the November 2010 opinion poll?

If Kirshen would immediately forward me the science which proves such artificial fluoridation is safe and effective, I would be happy to share it with Waterloo citizens. I’ve been waiting for it for three years.