Fluoride removal goes to Calgary city council

Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi says removing fluoride from the city's water supply is not as simple as a vote by council.

Ward 7 Ald. Druh Farrell will bring forward a motion on Monday to pull the chemical out of Calgary's drinking water.

Fluoride, which is supposed to reduce tooth decay, was added following a plebiscite in 1989.

As a result, Nenshi said there must be public consultation before that decision could be reversed.

"We really do need to engage the public and scientific experts on this more extensively than it would seem [is done with] this notice of motion coming forth council on Monday," Nenshi said.

Too much fluoride stains, pits teeth: panel

Even if the motion to ask Alberta Environment to change the city's water licence passes, Nenshi said it just authorizes the ministry to start a long approval process.

Farrell agreed that public input into such a decision is essential. She said it's important to open up the debate again.

"Right now we're about to improve the fluoride facility in our water treatment plants, so there are questions of providing fluoride in the water for everyone when it only benefits a tiny faction of our society," Farrell said.

She made reference to recent studies that she suggests question the safety of fluoride for certain portions of the population.

A 2008 panel told Health Canada fluoride levels in drinking levels needed to be limited to balance cavity protection with the risk of dental fluorosis, which leads to staining or pitting of the teeth if too much fluoride is ingested.

"Can fluoride be made available in a different way? Fluoride is readily available in toothpastes and mouthwashes, [and] that's a new phenomenon," she said.

Fluoridation has contentious history in city

Most members of city council will be supporting her motion on Monday, Farrell said.

Nenshi said he needs to know more of the science on both sides of the debate before he makes up his mind on the issue.

Last year, five aldermen supported the motion to remove the substance from Calgary's water supply in part to save money, but it was voted down 7-6.

The city has held six plebiscites on the issue, with 53 per cent of Calgarians voting in 1989 in favour of adding fluoride to the water supply to help prevent tooth decay.

The most recent plebiscite was in 1998, when 55 per cent of Calgarians who voted chose to keep fluoride in drinking water.