Should the City Move Away From Fluoridating the Citizens' Water Supply?

Houston, TX - This past Tuesday during Public Session, City Council heard from a number of Houstonians who were concerned about fluoride in our water supply. Council Member Helena Brown feels that strong valid arguments were given, which should be considered and adequately discussed by the leaders of the local city government who control the water supply to the majority of the citizens of Houston.

"The city debt has been a key concern ever since I took office," stated Council Member Brown. "Any way in which we can save funds when there are no funds is a good thing. Valid arguments beyond the financial one have been shared with us, such as: fluoride is a poison, a toxic substance which needs to be properly disposed (the city uses federally permissible levels in the water); fluoridating has had ill effects on citizens (such as the effect on teeth, bones, and the link to cancer); the city is in effect forcing medication; the original purpose decades ago is defeated with the increase of toothpaste/mouthwash usage and the decrease in the drinking of tap water."

Council Member Brown shares the concerns of the constituents who are worried about the chemicals in the water supply, the health risks associated with fluoride consumption, and the large cost associated with fluoridating a city's water supply: over half a million dollars a year in Houston that is just going down the drain.

"Now is a time when many cities are forgoing fluoridation due to the overall lack of any tangible benefit and with the consideration that the population is currently at potential risk of overexposure to fluoride chemical compounds. As the fourth largest city in the nation, we should have a healthy conversation about this matter and do what is right for the well-being of our citizens and our city."

Perhaps a trend has started. Cities and counties like Santa Fe, NM, Pinellas County, FL, and College Station, TX have stopped fluoridating their water supply. Harvard University released a study in 2006 that linked fluoridation to bone cancer in young men.  The process of fluoridating the water supply began in the 1960s, and the City of Houston began it in the 1980s. With time, science and society move forward.