Evening star., 1954-01-03
By Alton |. BlokesIee


As.oeieted Pres. Science Reporter
NEW YORK, Jan. 2.-The
movement to put fluoride in
drinking water to reduce tooth
decay is gaining speed. But so
is its opposition, a Nationwide
Associated Press survey finds.
Nearly one of every eight
Americans now is drinking fluo-
ridated water, by American Dem
tai Association tally. Fluorides
have been added to water for
15,578,000 persons in 1877 COM
munities-mer than half start
ing. it in the last two years.
Another 3,75O.000 drink water
naturally containing effective
amounts of fluorides.
At least 100 other communi-
ties are planning to f1uoridate,
including Philadelphia and Cleve-
land. Scores of other towns
are debating 1t.
It is hailed by official health
bodies as perfectly safe, and
great public health measure
against the Nations most wide
spread disease, tooth decay.
Reasons for Opposition.
Among opponents, some say it
isn't proven absolutely safe.
Others say it might cause serious
disease. Some call it "rat
poison" Some oppose it on re-
ligious grounds.
Fluoridation has almost always
been started by decision Of city
councils or other local govern
ing bodies with public health de-
partment approval. and usually
after public hearings. In 19
towns. city councils decided
against it.
Where it was voted upon, citi-
zens approved it in 20 commun-
tiles. turned it down in 40, of
which IS were in California. In
nine towns where it was started
citizens halted it later by public
vote.
Fluoridation controversies have
figured in at least nine lawsuits.
Suits challenging its constitu-
tionality are pending before
courts in Washington, Oregon
and North Dakota.
81 r-~~A-k
In places, it is a bitterly de-
bated issue. In others, 1t Is not.
Why? This is the fluoridation
story:
Fluorine, a natural chemical
element, in pure form is a lemon
yellow gas. highly reactive.
There is a little bit of fluorine,
in combination with other chem
icals, in human bones, teeth,
blood and other organs. Almost
all water contains a tiny bit of
flu0ride. Sea water has one part
per million. Vegetables and other
foods contain tiny amounts of
fluorides.
Fluoridation means adding
controlled amounts of sodium
fluoride-a salt form of f1uorine
to water at the rate of one
drop for every million drops of
water.
Health studies find this con-
tent Of f1uoride reduces tooth
decay among children by 35 to
IS per cent. The f1uoride makes
maturing teeth more resistant
to decay-but just how it works
isn't clear yet. 1t takes a few
years for the good effects to,
appear. There is also a little
evidences that fluoridation gives
some protection to teeth of per-
sons who were young adults
when fluoridation was started.
There is no change in the
taste. odor, or color of water
from the added huoride. 1t
costs from 5 to IA cents per per-
son per year.
DateS BACK DO xeaFS.
The fluoridation story actually
dates back 35 years or more,
when scientists began seeking
the cause of a peculiar mottling
or staining of enamel in some
peoples teeth.
They found the reason-these
people were drinking water high
in fuoride content, from two to
. eight or even more drops per
million drops of water. But
despite the unSightly nothing,
these people had less tooth decay
than persons drinking ordinary
water.
Then it was learned that one
part per million sodium fluoride
would reduce decay, without
causing nothing. Nothing may
start to appear if water has
much more than one part per
million. Slightly less than one
part per million is recommended
in warm areas where people
drink more water than normal
intake. Ways are being sought
to de-fluoridate waters which
are naturally too high.
Experiments adding ;luoride ~
drinking water began in 1945 in
half a dozen communities. BY
1852 f1uoridation was really get
ting into high gear.
1t is Endorsed as safe by the
American Dental Association, the
American Medical Association,
the American Public Health AS
sociation and other official
health agencies. These represent