To whom it may concern,
There is currently an active effort in Utah to fluoridate our public drinking water. Current law allows the issue to be placed on the ballot by city councils or - in first and second class counties - county commissioners. This is the only issue allowed by Utah law to be placed on the ballot without going through the initiative process first.
Safe Drinking Water Coalition is concerned about fluoridation for a number of reasons, including:
~The fact that there has never been a scientific study, using tap water, which proves the safety of fluoride.
~The fact that there has been a steady stream of research studies which show that fluoride in drinking water is not safe for everyone, and that federal Health and Human Services warns that subsets of the population are at substantial risk from fluoride.
~The fact that it is not appropriate to use the public water supply as a delivery system for mass medication; chlorine treats water; fluoride treats people.
~The fact that a product which cannot be diluted enough to be legally dumped into the ocean is purported to be safe when diluted at 1 ppm and added to our drinking water.
~The fact that fluoride is cumulative in the body and that it is impossible to regulate the dosage in a one-size-fits-all approach.
~The fact that when total intake of fluoride from all sources is taken into consideration, including commercially processed foods and beverages, fluoridated water results in the overdosing of many people.
~The fact that there are many good alternatives for those who want fluoride, such as rinses, gels, and fluoride tablets.
~The fact that proponents of fluoride use decades-old documentation in addressing both the effectiveness and safety of fluoride.
Feel free to contact us, for further information. This is not simply "a voting issue" or "letting the people decide." This is a matter of public safety for Utah citizens and highlights the responsibility of the promoters of fluoridation to inform the public of potentially harmful effects of fluoride to subsets of the population. This, they are not doing. |