Flouride plan could expose tens of thousands of children to unsafe doses

Los Angeles Daily News
Published August 21, 2007

A plan to add fluoride to Southern California tap water will expose more than 64,000 children a day to an unsafe dose of fluoride, according to a report issued today. The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California will begin adding fluoride to drinking water in most of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego counties and parts of San Bernardino, Riverside and Ventura counties in October. The plan will put 14.5 percent of children under 1 year old and 12.5 percent of children 1 to 2 years old over the recommended fluoride exposure limits published by the National Academy of Sciences' Institute of Medicine and endorsed by the American Dental Association, according to a report by the Environmental Working Group. A MWD representative did not immediately return calls seeking a response. The report includes information from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the Centers for Disease Control. According to the CDC, about 30 percent of children who drink fluoridated water have some degree of developing fluorosis, a defect of the permanent teeth resulting in dark staining and, in severe cases, substantial corrosion of the enamel. "Based on new evidence of fluoride's risk, it is both unnecessary and irresponsible for the water district to go ahead with its plan to fluoridate in October," said Environmental Working Group Vice President for the West Coast Bill Walker. "If the plan goes ahead, it is essential that the district undertake an aggressive public education plan to warn its customers of the risk." The full report is available online at www.ewg.org.