Fluoride Coming to Southern California-Action Needed

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Subj: 26 Cal Cities to Fluoridate Unless Californians Stop Them 

Date: 2/11/2003 10:15:38 PM Eastern Standard Time

From: <A HREF= " mailto:NYSCOF " >NYSCOF</A>

<A HREF= " mailto:caru@... " >caru@...</A>

BCC: <A HREF= " mailto:Arnoldgore " >Arnoldgore</A>

Metropolitan Board Adopts Policy to Fluoridate Imported Drinking Water;

Fluoridation Projected to Cost Less Than a Dollar a Family

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 11, 2003--Drinking water supplies for up

to 18 million Southern Californians will be fluoridated after Metropolitan

Water District's board of directors today adopted a policy that calls for the

cavity-fighting agent to be added to its treatment processes.

" At a cost of less than a dollar a family, the dental and medical health

communities believe fluoridation offers Southern California consumers an

additional level of public health protection, " said R. Gastelum,

Metropolitan's chief executive officer.

Gastelum noted that the American Dental Association estimates that every

dollar spent on fluoridation saves about $80 in dental health care costs.

" In the end, adding fluoridation at our five treatment plants represents the

greatest cost benefits for our 26 member public agencies and the people they

serve, " Gastelum said.

Metropolitan estimates it will take about 30 months to supplement the trace

amounts of naturally occurring fluoride in the district's imported source

waters from the Colorado River and Northern California to levels promoted by

the American Dental Association and national public health interests.

Gastelum, however, cautioned that actual fluoride levels consumers realize at

the tap will depend on how much their retail agencies blend Metropolitan

deliveries with local supplies.

Metropolitan is in discussions with dental health organizations about

covering the district's initial $5 million in capital costs for fluoridation,

Gastelum said. The California Dental Association Foundation, a non-profit

public benefit corporation, in cooperation with a statewide fluoridation task

force, has offered Metropolitan to pay for construction and installation of

fluoridation equipment at the district's treatment plants.

Metropolitan's board has been examining fluoridation since Gov. Pete

in October 1995 signed a state law that conditionally mandates fluoridation

of any public water supply that has at least 10,000 service connections or

customers. Although Metropolitan was exempt from conditions of the law, local

public health officials continued to push for large-scale fluoridation to be

applied and maximize the financial and medical benefits of treating municipal

water supplies.

Most recently, seven public health officials representing the six Southern

California counties in MWD's service area urged the Metropolitan board at its

December 2001 meeting to have the district consider fluoridating its

supplies. The health officials testified that adding fluoridation at

Metropolitan's treatment plants was the most cost-effective method to provide

fluoridation regionally.

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is a cooperative of 26

cities and water agencies serving 18 million people in six counties. The

district imports water from the Colorado River and Northern California to

supplement local supplies, and helps its members to develop increased water

conservation, recycling, storage, and other water-management programs.

    CONTACT: Metropolitan Water District

             Adan Ortega, Jr., 213/217-5786; 213/445-9645, mobile

             Bob Muir, 213/217-6930; 213/324-5213, mobile

http://www.newsalert.com/bin/clipstry?StoryId=CpKIdubKbyta2ntK & Topi

cName=fluoride

CK

New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation

http://www.orgsites.com/ny/nyscof

http://makeashorterlink.com/?D18721943

Fluoride Action Network

http