Step One: Educating the Public and Elected Officials

Along with other chemicals, cities in Illinois add fluoride to their water supply. Unlike chloride, fluoride is not added to make the water safer to use. It is a drug  we add because of the BELIEF that drinking it improves the health of our teeth. A BELIEF that has been transformed into a state law that mandates fluoride levels to be maintained at between 0.9 and 1.2 mg in every gallon. Our water department spends approximately $55,000 per year for about 85 tons of fluoride (likely in the form of Hydrofluorosilicic Acid). 


In April 2011, a spill of hydrofluorosilicic acid in Rock Island, Illinois, actually began to burn through parking lot cement in a water treatment facility before emergency crews arrived on the scene. To date, Aurora employees report they are not aware of any Hazmat incidences regarding fluoride.


Fluoride can reduce cavities by improving the strength and structure of the tooth enamel. Scientific evidence of many decades demonstrates this is true, especially when the fluoride is applied to growing teeth (by a dentist or during a simple swish and spit process - a technique often employed in small communities that cannot afford fluoridation processes for their water). There is little to no evidence that consuming fluoride has the same effect. Even prescription fluoride tablets - once very popular - haven’t been shown to reduce dental carries. On the contrary, there is a mounting body of evidence that regular consumption of fluoride can cause serious negative effects on health, especially bone health - effects that are not compensated for by reduced numbers of cavities. Ironically, excess fluoride is responsible for dental fluorosis. These negative effects are rare, but the probability of serious harm increases proportionately to the amount of fluoride ingested. 


Representative Richard Morthland (R, Moline) withdrew his bill of 2/15/2012 because of the large negative response he received from the public. His bill amends the Public Water Supply Regulation Act (last modified March 2010). Morthland’s proposal would repeal the provision requiring the addition of fluoride to public water supplies. Representative Morthland told me that his intent was not grounded in the health issues, but his attempt to remove an unfunded state mandate that could help save dollars spent on fluoride, allowing them to be better used elsewhere in the community. In a city the size of Aurora, $55,000 is a drop in the traditional bucket, but its still $55,000 (not to mention the cost of storing, properly handling, and adding the fluoride to the water).


Of course, the Aurora City Council cannot do anything to change the current mandates. It is important that you, and all citizens, become aware that we are spending tax dollars for something that is unnecessary, unhealthy, and which violates the liberty of every person who is forced to consume that drug against their own will.


Contrary to popular belief about cavities, Contrary to statements by the American Dental Association, and Contrary to current Illinois Law, consumption of fluoride is not healthy. Many communities and several countries have moved to stop the addition of fluoride to water - based on the reasons I mentioned tonight. When appropriate we will want to join those people to remove the mandate and stop adding fluoride. Our tax dollars can be better spent and our health can be improved.


Presented verbally to the City Council of Aurora, Illinois Tuesday, March 13, 2012