Residents interested in the fluoride in the water debate can voice their opinion Thursday night in Sparta.
Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said the city has discussed removing fluoride from city water systems. State law requires residents be notified of the potential change. Lowery said the town hall will be a good chance for people to ask questions and learn more about fluoride as a possible toxin.
“We know that it’s an issue,” Lowery said. “We know that in high doses it’s a problem, and so we felt like it was time to look at taking it out because most people are getting their fluoride from other areas, especially their toothpaste.”
Lowery said there are now fluoride warning labels on toothpaste, which instruct people to call a poison control center if too much is consumed, especially by children. Lowery said more people were against having fluoride in the water than expected.
“It’s been quite interesting finding out that a lot of people who were seemingly for fluoride now have whole water filter systems,” Lowery said. “They don’t drink tap water because of the stuff that’s in it. So it’s quite interesting that people have changed their mind after talking with us.”
Lowery said it was the public who suggested he do research about fluoride in the water. The matter was brought before the Board of Mayor and Aldermen in April. Lowery asked the aldermen to do their own research on the subject, and he has refrained from discussing it with them in the weeks since.
Lowery said the state regulates how much fluoride is put into water, and Sparta is still adding it to the water system.
“If the vote comes back to remove it, then whatever existing fluoride we have, we will just continue to put that in until it’s exhausted,” Lowery said. “We don’t probably have a month in supply right now anyway. So we would just phase it out and not purchase anymore.”
The Fluoride Town Hall meeting will be held at the Oldham Theater Thursday evening at 6.
