CALGARY - The City of Calgary is the latest community to wade into the decades-old debate on whether adding fluoride to municipal water is a cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay or an outdated practice that could be toxic.
Ald. Druh Farrell said she initiated a motion to stop adding fluoride after getting a number of letters and reports from people in the medical profession.
They in part raised the fact that some small sectors of society, including children under the age of one, people undergoing dialysis and those with osteoporosis, are urged not to consume fluoridated water.
"I thought it was important to look at the issue again -- and the more I researched it, I started questioning the ethics of fluoride based on some of these potential health concerns," she said.
"One of the principles of a city providing water supply is that we should do no harm. And our job is to provide clean drinking water to all of our citizens."
The topic has been hotly debated across the country -- and around the world -- for years.
Brantford, Ont., became the first community in Canada to fluoridate its water in 1945. According to Health Canada, about 40 per cent of Canadians now drink fluoridated water.
Dr. Larry Levin, president of the Ontario Dental Association, can't believe the issue keeps coming up.
"When you have so many world organizations speaking so passionately and positively about the effect of water fluoridation, I can't understand why municipalities would still be having such a debate."
The City of Hamilton decided by a narrow margin late last year to continue to fluoridate the city's water supply, but reduce the level of the compound. Drayton Valley, Alta., recently decided to stop the practice after council reviewed information critical of fluoridation.
On the other side of the argument, groups routinely call on the City of Montreal to begin fluoridating its water to stop "an epidemic of tooth decay" among young children.
Calgary itself only introduced water fluoridization in 1991 after numerous plebiscites on the issue.
Five saw a majority of people reject the idea, with one in 1989 finally showing more than half in favour. Another poll in 1998 found 55 per cent of people wanted to keep fluoride in the water.
Levin said it's been shown repeatedly and reliably that fluoridation of the water supply helps strengthen teeth against decay for both children and adults. It's especially important for the children of poorer families that may not have access to dental care or fluoridated toothpaste.
"The only preventive care that child might get is coming from the fluoride in the drinking water."
Farrell's proposition takes that into account, suggesting $75,000 a year be spent sending fluoride rinses and toothpastes to those people who may not be able to afford them. It currently costs the city $60,000 a year to add fluoride to the water and they will soon have to spend $5 million on upgrades to the system.
There is a vocal group of opponents to the idea of fluoridation.
They cite studies from India, China, Brazil and other countries that suggest a link between fluoride and a number of health problems. They say fluoride can have a negative effect on the brain and other organs and could lower the IQs of children.
Most of these people are not scientists or able to distinguish whether studies are done well, said Levin.
He pointed out that many health organizations, including Health Canada, the Food and Drug Administration in the U.S. and the World Health Organization, support the use of fluoride with no reservations.
There isn't a question that these organizations would support the practice if research credibly showed it was unsafe in any way, said Levin.
"If any of these groups had a health concern, you would have heard about it, we wouldn't be doing it anymore," he said. "I wouldn't be giving it to my children, or would any other dentist want their kids or their families or their patients to be using it."
Health Canada spokesman Stephane Shank said the department is constantly reviewing the latest studies from around the world. He pointed to a statement last summer from Canada's chief dental officer, Peter Cooney, who said there is "no evidence to suggest that children should avoid drinking fluoridated water at the accepted levels in Canadian drinking water supplies."
Farrell conceded that no negative effects of fluoride have been proven, but said any shadow of a doubt should be seriously considered.
"Doubts have been cast on the safety and efficacy," she said. "And I think when it comes to the safety of the water supply, err on the side of caution."
The topic will be debated Monday by city councillors. Five support the bill going in, and if eight agree the practice should end they'll have to go to the provincial government to request a change to the city's water licence.
