Water fluoridation good for Iowans’ health

Mark Amberg's Jan. 19 letter regarding water fluoridation misrepresents some facts and ignores others.

First, the proposed recommendation from the Department of Health and Human Services does not lower the maximum level of fluoride to

0.7 parts per million (ppm); rather, this value represents the recommended level. The DHHS panel recommended a maximum level of

2.0 ppm - a big difference.

Second, Mr. Amberg mentions that the government panel did not cite a variety of other studies linking water fluoridation to a number of diseases. There's a good reason for this - the DHHS panel relies on valid and verified scientific evidence and not the “junk science” that constitute most of these “studies” to which Mr. Amberg refers.

Moreover, he ignores an irrefutable scientific fact: Water fluoridation has been shown repeatedly to reduce the rate of tooth decay for people of all ages.

His arguments defy common sense. After all, given that most Eastern Iowa cities and towns have had community water fluoridation for 50-plus years (including Cedar Rapids since 1952 and Iowa City since 1953), if his claims were correct, wouldn't we be overrun with epidemics of liver, kidney and bone disease?

John Warren

Coralville