If your drinking/tap water's not already fluoridated, it probably will be by October. And the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California doesn't want to talk about it.
MWD voted back in 2005 to add fluoride to the drinking water it supplies to most of Los Angeles, Orange, San Diego, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura counties. Your city may already add fluoride to your water after they get it from Met, but after October they won't have a choice.
Since the 2005 vote, however, alarming new evidence has emerged on fluoride's health risks, including a Harvard study showing an increase in a rare bone cancer among teenage boys exposed to too much fluoride as children.
The American Dental Association now warns against fluoridated water in infant formula; and just last week, the Fluoride Action Network sent Congress a petition signed by 600 medical, public health and environmental professionals, urging a moratorium on fluoridation until more research determines the level of risk.
After concerns were raised by EWG and SoCal residents, MWD agreed to hold a briefing for its board on the state of fluoride science. The briefing will be Monday, Aug. 20, but it's looking like a dog-and-pony show.
We're flying in one of the nation's top fluoride experts from the National Research Council, whom MWD has granted 5 minutes to speak, followed by 5 minutes of pro-fluoride rebuttal. That's the time they have allotted for the entire fluoride discussion: 10 minutes.
But if you live in Southern California and can make it to the meeting--
Noon Monday, [try and be early for a seat]
700 N. Alameda in downtown LA, next to Union Station
--you'll be allowed 3 minutes to speak your mind.
If you're unable to go, you can show your support by telling MWD that they should spend more than a few minutes considering a major public health decision that will affect 18 million people. Email General Manager Jeffrey Kightlinger at
jkightlinger@mwdh2o.com or call his office at (213) 217-6139.
Thank you for your support and we hope to see you at the meeting!
Richard Wile
Exec. Officer
Environmental Working Group