Montreal to remove fluoride from West Island drinking water

Fluoride in the water supply has always been a subject that has divided people globally.

Recently, Montreal officials announced they plan to end water fluoridation by the end of the year, which has ignited backlash from West Island municipal leaders who say the decision lacks input from public-health experts and the community.

Dorval Mayor Marc Doret said the news from the city came abruptly, adding this should not be talked about at the political level but rather at the medical and administrative level with public health.

“It’s a matter of public health. Fluoride is an issue where you can find many people on one side who say it’s not good, and the same amount of people on the other side will say it’s very good. The studies aren’t clear. We don’t know exactly. We don’t have exactly the scientific information that we require,” said Mayor Doret.

RELATED: Petition to stop water fluoridation on West Island

In September, a report by the U.S. National Toxicology Program found that higher levels of fluoride exposure, such as drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per litre, are associated with lower IQ in children. There are 0.7 milligrams per litre in the water treated for the West Island.

“We could pick and choose a report that says it has no value and it could cause harm. That’s not for us as political leaders to start picking and choosing different reports. It has to be based on science,” said Doret.

Pointe-Claire resident Ray Coelho has advocated against the mineral for years, saying he’s happy with fluoride being phased out. The question he’s asking is why it’s being done quietly.

“I think it’s a political gesture. I mean, my old councillor said that the issue of fluoridation is political. I think these councillors are trying to make themselves ambiguous on the subject of fluoridation… I don’t think it’s rooted in anything in regards to science,” said Coelho.

Coelho, along with Gilles Parent, a naturopath, claim that city councilors are not specialists and they are not well informed.

“Some people are drinking much more water and some people are drinking much less water, and people are exposed to other sources of fluoride like toothpaste, tea and things like that,” Parent said.

Parent and Coelho stress the importance of reducing the risk.

“(The) unreasonable risk to children’s health, which was the verdict of a federal judge just two weeks ago in the United States,” Coelho said.

Doret says many communities are in favour of the mineral being in the water, with towns like Baie-D’Urfé voicing their frustrations in a press release that they have not been consulted, nor have they requested the cessation of water fluoridation.

The City of Montreal tells CityNews in a statement that fluoride is a very corrosive product that can damage water infrastructure in the long term, and they estimate that only one per cent of the drinking water produced is consumed by humans. The related cities concerned have been notified of the recommendation, which must be approved by the agglomeration council next month.

“What I’m saying is, let’s put the brakes on this,” Doret said. “Let’s have a discussion. Let’s be informed. I’m not a scientist. I’m not a doctor. It’s not for me to make a decision whether it has value or no value. Let the scientific community guide us on this.”