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Oakland aldermen vote to remove fluoride from city water after extended public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing with multiple residents, health officials and medical professionals testifying both for and against fluoridation, the Oakland Board of Aldermen voted to remove fluoride from the municipal water supply; the motion passed with three votes in favor and two abstentions.
The Oakland Board of Aldermen voted to remove fluoride from the town's water supply following a public hearing where residents, a county health official and medical professionals gave mixed testimony.
Supporters, including Dr. Savannah Hughes and county health director Tina Baum, told the board that community water fluoridation at recommended levels helps prevent tooth decay, especially among children and low-income residents with limited access to dental care. "Fluoride has been shown to reduce tooth decay by at least 25 percent in children and adults," Dr. Hughes said, adding that the current recommended concentration is 0.7 parts per million.
Opponents raised concerns about potential systemic risks, cited international examples and recent studies, and urged local control or removal. Ken Wasany and Floyd Newhouse said they prefer personal choice over community-wide fluoridation and pointed to recent legal and scientific…
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