Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:33am. Terry Cooke led the flag salute.

Minutes:

Jack G. moved and Matthew R. seconded acceptance of minutes for October 3, 2017. Motion carried.

Guests:

Guests were not introduced due to lack of time.

Program

Matthew R. moved and Andrew M. seconded extending the meeting for 15 minutes. Motion carried.

---

City of Port Angeles Proposition 2: Fluoridation of Municipal Water Supply

Speaker:  Dr. Tom Locke, former Health Officer for Clallam County and now Jefferson County Health Officer, said Fluoride is the 13th most common element on the earth and that all natural waters contain it. Since the discovery of its benefits in the early 1930’s it has been in major city water supplies since 1945. Now 75% of the country drinks fluoridated water and dental decay has been reduced by 25%. “All Scientific organizations support its use.” FAN or Fluoride Anti Network has been the leading opponent. “Their tactics use false claims and fear mongering” almost like the anti-vaccination movement. He said chronic dental problems lead to health problems. Fluoridation saves $34.00 for every $1.00 spent.

Speaker: Dr. Eloise Kailin, retired medical allergist and author of “many medical articles” had Jim Bourget speak for her. He gave her 5 reasons of opposition fluoridation.

• Lack of confirmed consent, you don’t know what is going in your body
• Not pharmaceutical grade, might even be same grade as used in fertilizer industry
• Studies indicate harmful if too much is ingested: “can even damage teeth”
• No dose control, children can consume too much and contamination of the environment.
• She said babies can be born with 40% lower IQ and poisons fetal brain.

Q & A:

Q:  Water purifiers?
TL: Distillation and reverse osmosis only way to remove fluoride.
JB: Fluoride has to be shipped in special containers and have not been tested.
TL: Ten million drink natural fluoridated water. “The effort to demonize its effort is ridiculous. All atoms are the same and like other chemicals and minerals come from the earth.

Q: What is Mr. Bourget’s background?
JB: Has an Environmental Science degree. Has studied issue for 15 years. His decisions are his own. Why have there not been blind studies in the United States? They would demonstrate how dangerous it was. People working fluorides are not always trained. Fluoride has same toxicity as lead.
TL: There is a difference between belief and opinion and scientific fact. “Opponents believe in alternative facts not scientific studies. Fluoride is just one of forty things added to a city water supply. It is not as toxic as chlorine. Port Angeles water needs buffer to keep pipes from corroding. The United States has the lowest rate of water borne disease in the World.

Q: How do you ethically or legally get people to ingest something they do not want?
TL: It is a liberty issue from the beginning and “public good is what public health is all about”. Some times cities and counties have to make decisions that override what others say. European cities do not have centralized water systems so it is hard to fluoridate. Their health care is different from in the United States where they do it on the cheap.
JB: There should be a freedom of choice especially if you cannot afford to buy distilled water. “Nobel Prize winners, Physicians and Scientists all agree it is damaging to the body. Cities are starting to discount the practice.”

Q: Where do AMA, ADA and Clallam County stand?
TL: There are over 30,000 published studies. “Only distraction is fluorosis or white specks on the teeth. Ongoing studies are being done.”

Q: Any red flags from studies?
FL: Bonds to calcium in teeth and bones and strengthens them but might also make bones more elastic. Good oral health helps fight infection, diabetes, heart disease and birth defects.
JB: “Studies show Sequim has not more or less cavities.” Public should be given the money to use for their own tools and guidance. They should be able to invest in their own public health and dental care.
EK: Fluorosis is a major problem.

Q: At what level would officials decide not to put in water?
TL: .7 to 1.2 parts per millions. If found above 4 parts then reductions would have to be made. Clallam County is deficit in natural fluoride even though Sequim Bay h as a little. “Any substance can be toxic if taken in high doses.”
JB: There is no control of what is put in the water system. It is not worth the risk. There are not benefits, no purpose.

Q: Who is pushing or benefitting from the movement?
TL: Profit is miniscule. Industry is regulated. Dentists lose money, not gain, when teeth are better. Pain, disability, employability and self-esteem are the benefits.
EK: “Fluorosis occurs in 1 in every 200 people. It can cost thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars over a lifetime to repair it. The Anti-movement gets little money while they “major water offices” donate to promote the issue.”
TL: There is no scientific study on validity of impact. The Smile data which is done every five years has nothing to do with fluoridation. Home not school is what counts.

Closing:

EK/JB: No studies show that fluoride is positive. Freedom of choice. It is untested and uncontrolled. Why have 3 out of 4 ballot measures been voted down?

TL: Why should the business community care? Your own personal health, family, and that of your employees. Dental disease is expensive. Untreated dental care is the number two reason that people go to the emergency ward. Medical/Dental profession looking to move to the area want to know if the area has fluoridation.

Upcoming Meeting:

Oct 16: PABA Board Meeting
Oct 17:  City of Port Angeles Proposition 1: Change in Cities Form of Goverment

Meeting adjourned at 8:48am.