Anti-fluoride group says arsenic hitches ride on water chemicals
Fluoride opponents, citing a lab analysis of Philomath’s fluoridated water, argued Thursday that the fluoridation chemicals planned for Portland’s water supply could contain a deadly amount of arsenic.
Clean Water Portland, the main campaign committee fighting the water fluoridation measure on Portland’s May 21 special election ballot, commissioned the study because Philomath uses fluorosilicic acid, the same chemical compound Portland Water Bureau intends to use if voters approve fluoridation. It’s also used by most larger urban areas across the country that fluoridate their water supply.
Philomath’s water was tested by ALS Environmental Lab in Kelso.
William Hirzy, a chemist at American University in Washington, D.C., said the tested water, if matched by Portland’s, would raise arsenic levels more than 12 percent above the highest recorded levels in 2012 — and that would be enough to cause five extra cases of lung or bladder cancer each year in Portland.
“Arsenic is a powerful toxin that has substantial health risks even at low levels,” Hirzy said. “It should not be added to Portland’s drinking water.”
David Shaff, administrator of the Portland Water Bureau, said he couldn’t comment fully until seeing the data.
“We’ll look at it and I’ll talk to the people who actually know something,” Shaff said, “and see if there is any level of concern we would have.”
Some of the information put forth by fluoride opponents in the past has not been very impressive, Shaff added.
Hirzy is the former head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s scientists union, which has raised concerns about the use of fluoride. He is the lead author of a study on fluorosilicic acid published in February by Environmental Science & Policy.
Arsenic in Everett water:
http://www.doh.wa.gov/CommunityandEnvironment/Contaminants/Arsenic.aspx
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2012/197.html
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