“This is identical board that promised transparency. The identical management that stated they might run this utility the appropriate approach. And now they will’t even comply with a primary notification statute earlier than stripping a public well being measure from a whole lot of hundreds of individuals’s consuming water,” Woodfin wrote.
Late final week, the Metropolis of Birmingham filed a lawsuit towards CAW, claiming that the CAW failed to supply discover of the change and requesting an emergency courtroom order for fluoridation to renew, in keeping with native WVTM13 information. The town claimed in its submitting that eradicating fluoride from the water threatened residents’ dental well being, together with low-income residents and kids who lack entry to dental care.
When reached by Ars Technica, the Metropolis of Birmingham declined to touch upon the lawsuit. CAW advised reporters that it doesn’t touch upon pending litigation.
Fluoride suggestions
The American Dental Affiliation (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics advocate fluoridating neighborhood water to forestall tooth decay, significantly in kids. In areas the place fluoridated water is unavailable, medical consultants advise prescribing fluoride dietary supplements for kids.
Water fluoridation is taken into account one of many high 10 public well being achievements. Nonetheless, since its introduction within the US in 1945, unfounded fears and conspiracy theories have swirled in regards to the apply. Such considerations have been stirred up once more in recent times by anti-vaccine Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Though he has no background in drugs, public well being, or science, Kennedy has bucked scientific proof on fluoridation and made sturdy, unsubstantiated claims that fluoridated water is unsafe. As well being secretary, he has pledged to take away it from US water. A modeling examine by Harvard College researchers final 12 months discovered that if Kennedy follows by on that pledge, it could result in 25 million extra decayed enamel in kids and youths within the first 5 years.
Well being consultants have additionally particularly pushed again on the concept fluoridation is not needed as a result of availability of fluoride-containing toothpaste and mouthwash. In feedback to NBC Information, Scott Tomar, head of the division of inhabitants oral well being on the College of Illinois Chicago, stated: “It definitely is true that fluoride-containing toothpaste is efficient at stopping decay, nevertheless it’s not true that that alone justifies eradicating fluoride from our consuming water.” Tomar stated CAW’s transfer to take away fluoride will put residents vulnerable to extra cavities. “It has most likely put youngest kids on the biggest threat, as a result of that’s normally the place we see it present up first when fluoridation stops,” he stated.
