Report No. 023-12

TO: Chair and Members of the Board of Health
FROM: Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC, Medical Officer of Health
DATE: 2012 February 16

Fluoride Public Participation Meeting – January 25, 2012

Recommendation

It is recommended that Report No. 023-12 Fluoride Public Participation Meeting – January 25, 2012 be received for information.

Background

On February 17, 2011, the Board of Health heard presentations from Health Unit staff and community delegates and unanimously supported the ongoing fluoridation of London’s drinking water (see Board of Health No 014-11 “Fluoridation of the City of London’s Drinking Water”). On April 14, 2011, the Board of Health received another presentation from Health Unit staff regarding the US National Research Council Report, entitled “Fluoride in Drinking Water – A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards” (see Board of Health No. 040-11).  Several community delegates made presentations at this meeting as well.

In June 2011, Health Canada released its report entitled “Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality: Guideline Technical Document – Fluoride” http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/ewh-semt/pubs/water-eau/2011-fluoride-fluorure/index-eng.php . In 2008, City of London staff advised City Council to delay any review of water fluoridation until the release of this report. Therefore, on November 28, 2011, City staff brought a report on community water fluoridation to the Built and Natural Environment Committee. The Committee voted to hold a public participation meeting and specifically requested presentations from Health Canada about the recently released report, as well as presentations from the Health Unit.

Public Participation Meeting

The public participation meeting took place on January 25, 2012 at Centennial Hall before the newly formed Civic Works Committee, Chaired by Councilor Harold Usher. It started at 7:00 pm and ended at 1:00 am on January 26, 2012. The meeting began with a staff report which consisted of presentations from Mr. John Braam, Water Director and City Engineer, City of London; the Medical Officer of Health; Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health; and Dr. Peter Cooney, Chief Dental Officer – Health Canada. After the staff report, only questions for clarification were permitted. 

Following the staff report, 44 registered delegates made five-minute presentations including Dr. Arlene King, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, and  representatives from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario; the Ontario Dental Association; the London and District Dental Society; the Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry; the Ontario Dental Assistants Association; the Ontario Dental Hygienists Association; the Canadian Dental Hygienists Association; the Genest Detention Centre and several local general and paediatric dentists. Dr. Maria Van Harten, Dental Consultant for the Middlesex-London Health Unit and four other health units in Southwest Ontario presented on behalf of the Ontario Association of Public Health Dentistry. As well, letters of support were received from the London-Middlesex Children’s Aid Society; a former London dentist who is now working as an Assistant

Professor in the Division of Pediatric Dentistry at the University of British Columbia; and the Canadian Association of Public Health Dentistry.  Numerous delegates who were opposed to fluoridation of drinking water also made presentations and/or showed videos. They included London residents who had previously presented to the Board of Health and Dr. Paul Connett, who had spoken at a public meeting in London on March 2, 2011. Following the registered delegates, members of the audience who had not registered but who wished to address the Committee were permitted to make two-minute delegations. Fifteen (15) people did so.

A complete list of the delegates and the minutes of the meeting can be found at http://sire.london.ca/mtgviewer.aspx?meetid=209&doctype=MINUTES .

Outcome of the Public Participation Meeting

At the end of the public participation portion of the meeting, the Civic Works Committee voted to have City staff work with the Health Unit to prepare a report that addresses the issues that had been raised during the meeting. Specific questions to be addressed included:

• The legal issues around ‘informed consent’;
• Alternatives, other than nutrition, when water is not fluoridated;
• The toxicity of HFSA (hydrofluorosilicic acid), the product used to fluoridate London’s water; and,
• Whether the Municipal Council has the legal authority to make the decision to cease fluoridation of the water supply.

Health Unit staff members are currently working with City of London staff to prepare this report.

Outcome of a Special Meeting of Halton’s Regional Council

On January 31, 2012, Halton Region underwent a similar public participation meeting regarding community water fluoridation before their Regional Council. After hearing from 29 delegates over a period of 10 hours, the Regional Council voted 11 to 9 to support the ongoing fluoridation of Halton’s water.

This report was prepared by Dr. Bryna Warshawsky, Associate Medical Officer of Health and Director, Oral Health, Communicable Disease & Sexual Health Services; Mr. Paul Sharma, Manager, Oral Health Team; Dr. Maria Van Harten, Dental Consultant; Mr. Dan Flaherty, Manager, Communications Manager; Mr. Wally Adams, Director, Environmental Health and Chronic Disease Prevention Services; and Mr. Daniel Huggins, Water Quality Manager, City of London.

Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health 

This report addresses the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care’s Child Health Standard.