Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
ASPEN, Colo. (AP) — Fluoride will return to the water supply of a small Colorado town known for its ski area.
Snowmass Village stopped adding fluoride to the water supply after its Water & Sanitation District Board voted in July to remove the chemical, reported The Aspen Daily News (http://bit.ly/1OKvfKL ).
But a recent survey of the district's water users showed that 64 percent favor fluoride.
"We can't not pay attention to our customers," said board president Joe Farrell. "We can't not pay attention to the medical and dental communities."
The survey results were enough to sway the vote of board member Michael Shore, who supported fluoride's removal in July.
He provided the tie-breaking vote for returning the chemical in the board's 3-2 decision Wednesday.
"I'm personally against fluoridation but have to go with the public input," said Shore. He also expressed concern that board members could be recalled if they didn't heed the survey results.
Professionals and members of the public provided mixed input during the board meeting.
"Your directive as a water board is to provide us with clean water. Anything (beyond that) is a slippery slope," said Snowmass native Joey Stokes
Chiropractor Tom Lankering agreed. He said adding fluoride to the water amounts to medicating the public without consent and pointed out that much of Western Europe doesn't fluoridate.
But several health professionals disagreed.
Dentist Ward Johnson called fluoride toxicity a "non-issue," and retired cardiologist Dr. Morris Cohen agreed.
"The public health department wants people healthier. They believe fluoride is the way to go. And I agree with it," he said.
Physician Kimberly Levin agreed that fluoride can be toxic, but reiterated that it is safe in low doses.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services lowered its recommended fluoride level in April.
___
Information from: Aspen Daily News, http://www.aspendailynews.com
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
