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New Recommendation Gives Local Man Encouragement

Waterloo- After recommending for many years against fluoridation, a local Waterloo man has finally achieved some success- in a way.

“I am pleased other people are beginning to see concerns in fluoridation,” said Robert Flemming.

Mr. Fleming is a grassroots activist with Waterloo Watch, a group that campaigns against fluoride in the water.

Recently a public study commissioned by Health Canada recommended that levels of fluoride in drinking water should be reduced to 0.7 ppm from any levels that are higher than that.

Research is now revealing that excessive fluoride levels can lead to fluorosis, which damages the teeth of young children.

Excessive amounts of fluoride is also being linked to some types of cancer.

Waterloo currently has levels of fluoridated water between 0.5 and 0.8 ppm, which tends to be lower than the federal recommendation level.

Fluoride has been added to Waterloo water since the year 1967, but this may change.

The Canada Fluoridation Act of Ontario gives voters the ability to choose if they want to have fluoride added to their water.

The citizens of Waterloo are scheduled to vote on the issue in the 2010 municipal election, and if the voters vote against it then fluoride will no longer be added.