The Fairbanks City Council has voted to stop adding fluoride to the municipal water system. The move follows a lengthy investigation by a council-appointed task force of experts. Their report released this spring recommended no additional fluoride be added because local ground water already contains some natural fluoride. It also cites studies which show ingestion of higher levels of fluoride to be unsafe for non-nursing infants. Fluoride has also been linked to health problems, including weakening of bones, but it’s credited with reducing tooth decay over several decades. Mayor Jerry Cleworth says the council’s decision is in line with many other governments.
Download Audio (MP3)
Dan Bross is a reporter at KUAC in Fairbanks.
