On Friday, a new monument was unveiled in downtown “celebrating” the fact that the city of Grand Rapids is the birthplace of water fluoridation. In 1945, Grand Rapids became the first city to add fluoride to its water supply. The decision came despite considerable controversy over the potential health and environmental effects of fluoride, as fluoride had previously been used extensively in the production of the Atomic bomb and much of what was “known” about fluoride’s health effects came from those projects.
For years, activists have raised questions about the health effects of fluoride. Despite claims of lessening tooth decay and improving overall dental health, opponents of fluoridation have said that there is little difference between tooth decay rates in countries with fluoridated water and those without. Fluorosis–a staining of the teeth caused by excessive fluoride consumption–is common in the United States, with 32% of children having some form of fluorosis. There have also been concerns raised about the possibility of fluoride causing cancer, causing bone disease, and causing damage to vital organs such as the kidneys. Moreover, because of concerns regarding fluoride and dental health, the American Dental Association (ADA) no longer recommends fluoride for babies.
Along with the ADA’s concerns, a statement released on August 9, 2007 signed by over 800 dentists, physicians, scientists, and environmentalists urged the United States Congress to stop water fluoridation until hearings are held on the topic. The statement cites “new evidence” that they claim proves that fluoride is ineffective as a means of fighting tooth decay and has serious health risks. This evidence includes ADA policy recommending infant formula not be prepared with fluoridated water, the CDC’s concession that the predominant benefit of fluoride is topical not systemic, CDC data showing that dental fluorosis, caused by fluoride over-exposure, now impacts one third of American children, research indicating little difference in decay rates between fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities, a Harvard study indicating a possible link between fluoridation and bone cancer, and the fact that the silicofluoride chemicals used for fluoridation are contaminated industrial waste and have never been FDA-approved for human ingestion Among the signers are the 2000 Nobel Prize winner for Medicine, Dr. Arvid Carlsson who said that “fluoridation is against all principles of modern pharmacology. It’s really obsolete” and three members of the 2006 National Research Council (NRC) panel on fluoride’s toxicology.
Despite long-standing concern about the health impacts of fluoride, the Grand Rapids Press article on the fluoride monument made little mention of these concerns. The Press focused on the dignitaries that attended–including Mayor George Heartwell, US Representative Vern Ehlers, and Dr. James Wieland of the West Michigan Dental Foundation–and their comments praising fluoridation. According to the Press, Mayor Heartwell described the decision to use fluoridation as a “bold move,” while Representative Ehlers said that his 23 cavities at age 15 might have been reduced had their been fluoride in his water. At the end of the article, the reporter mentioned two fluoridation opponents attended the ceremony from Citizens for Pure Water. However, the Press only mentions that they urged “a moratorium on fluoridation, which has been said to increase health risks and cause cancer” and only printed one quote–”who wants to die from cancer at 30 with perfect teeth.” There was no investigation of either the claims by proponents or opponents of fluoride.
A story on the online Rapid Growth Media website featured a similar pro-fluoridation perspective with no consideration of alternative views.
