Poldi Olafson (Letter to the editor, Oct. 3) states that “There is a monumental amount of evidence from around the world showing the harmfulness of fluoride.”
But in 11 column inches of letter, the writer doesn’t provide a single scientific study to bolster his case.
In its place, the writer provides some bizarre logic about nuclear bombs and artificial fertilizers, implying that since fluoride is one of the many ingredients in those items, then it must also be harmful in extremely low concentrations in our water supply. By that logic, we should also stay entirely away from table salt, since the Romans used it to poison the soil of the Carthaginians in 149 BC.
Surely, by now, we should all realize that the harmfulness of any element is a function of the dosage.
As for the fluoridation of water in particular, I’ve read the Wikipedia entry on “water fluoridation controversy” and I didn’t come across anything that would convince me that we are being poisoned.
So I fervently hope that in deciding on this issue, our city council relies on scientific studies, as opposed to bizarre armchair logic.
Evan Bedford
Red Deer