OPB –April 4, 2007
Fluoride Debate Heats Up In Oregon House
By Chris Lehman
SALEM, OR 2007 – Oregon lawmakers are once again taking up the contentious issue of fluoride in drinking water. As Correspondent Chris Lehman reports, the proposal has failed several times in Salem and it appears to have an uphill battle this time as well.
Fluoride in drinking water has been hailed as one of the biggest public health policy achievements of the 20th century. But most people in Oregon drink water without fluoride.
A bill under review in Salem would require most cities, including Portland, to add fluoride to their water systems.
Opponents of fluoridation say it can cause bone cancer and harm infants.
Paul Connett is director of the Fluoride Action Network. He says fluoride can prevent tooth decay. But it's safer when it comes out of a toothpaste tube, not out of your faucet.
Paul Connett: If you're concerned about poor children, then you should be targeting those children, with special care, special diets, and if necessary, free toothbrushes and toothpaste.
Some two-thirds of Americans drink fluoridated water. The American Dental Association calls it a safe and effective way to promote dental health.
