“The take-home message for tonight, ladies and gentleman, is that fluoridated water is safe,” said David Nelson of the state’s Department of Public Health. “We’ve been discussing this for 60 years.”
A number of speakers, however, expressed uncertainty about the effects of fluoride and urged the City Council to conduct its own research rather than rely on outside opinions.
“Since when is an endorsement a substitute for science?” said Jeff Green, the national director of Citizens for Safe Drinking Water, who argued that fluoride had not been proven to reduce tooth decay.
The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California agreed in 2003 to add fluoride to local water supplies after county health officials and dentists requested it. The district’s Robert B. Diemer Treatment Plant in Yorba Linda, which provides 18% of Newport Beach’s drinking water, is scheduled to begin fluoridating water Nov. 19.
The City Council, responding to residents’ concerns, asked the district in October to delay fluoridation until council members could evaluate the issue further; the district announced, however, it would go ahead with its plan.
Spokesman Bob Muir said Tuesday two of the district’s five plants had already started fluoridation and that the other three were set to follow in the coming weeks.
“At this time, we’re moving ahead as planned,” he said. “I’m not aware of any movement to delay this process.”
MICHAEL MILLER may be reached at (714) 966-4617 or at michael.miller@latimes.com.
