Wallkill Valley Times Sep. 13 2017 | Page 3

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Wallkill Valley Times, Wednesday, September 13, 2017
Health commissioner supports Walden’s use of flouride
By TED REMSNYDER
The long-gestating debate over the
future of public water fluoridation in
Walden could soon be coming to an head, as
the village board heard expert testimony
from Orange County Department of
Health Commissioner Dr. Eli N. Avila at
its meeting last Tuesday. The board will
now mull over Avila’s appearance, in
which the official argued forcibly in favor
of keeping fluoride in Walden’s drinking
supply, as well as the written opinions of
additional experts that submitted letters
to the village. The board could make a
preliminary decision on the matter as
soon as their next session on Sept. 19.
If the board decides to continue
fluoridation, then the issue would simply
be dropped and the program would
continue. But if the board makes a
preliminary ruling to eliminate fluoride,
they would have to embark on the next
step of the state’s process regarding
fluoride removal. The village would be
required to notify the public about the
decision, inform the state about the move
(and provide them with an alternative
health plan) and finally rescind the local
law that allows for fluoridation. “What
would happen is the board would come to
a conclusion that they would like to move
forward to remove it or they’re going to
just decide to leave it in,” Walden Mayor
Susan Rumbold said. “If the consensus
is to move forward, then we would do
whatever the next step is, which I believe
is giving the state a 90-day notice that we
want to remove it.”
While several health experts provided
Walden Village Manager John Revella
with written testimonials arguing
for and against water fluoridation, Dr.
Avila was the only health professional
to appear before the board in person
during the Sept. 5 fluoride discussion. A
state law passed in 2015 requires that a
municipality hear in-person testimony
from at least one professional before
making a ruling on fluoride removal.
The county also brought along a letter
from the New York State Department of
Health that urged the village to continue
the fluoridation initiative. For his part,
Dr. Avila, who was accompanied by two
county engineers, noted that “We have
to keep one thing in mind - and that is
if we remove fluoride from the water,
we increase the probability of getting
cavities.”
The state letter also contends that water
fluoridation is a vital program. “New
York State is committed to improving
the oral health of all New Yorkers,” the
letter begins. “Therefore, the New York
State Department of Health recognizes
community water fluoridation as an
evidence-based intervention that has far-
reaching benefits. For 70 years, people in
the United States have benefitted from
drinking water with fluoride, leading to
better health. Even though tooth decay
rates have been decreasing in NYS, tooth
decay remains the most common chronic
disease and dental care the single greatest
unmet service need among children. The
prevention of tooth decay is a high public
health priority area because of the costs,
both social and financial, it inflicts on
our communities. Community water
fluoridation remains a safe, effective, and
economical way to preven t tooth decay.”
Although
the
public
health
departments recommended that the
village continue fluoridating its water,
Dr. Michael Schachter of The Schachter
Center for Complementary Medicine
in Suffern advised Walden to halt the
program. In a letter dated Aug. 3, the
doctor wrote that “I have been against
water fluoridation for 40 years. I played a
major role in Rockland County’s decision
not to fluoridate the water supply about
40 years ago.” The doctor also provided
the village with a web link to an article
written by Dr. Joseph Mercola that
presents 10 reasons why the doctor
believes water fluoridation is unneeded,
including potential damage to multiple
tissues in the body non-related to dental
health. Dr. Susan Burian, a chiropractic
specialist in Brewster, also submitted
a letter to the village. “Although I do
not recommend adding fluoride to any
drinking water since it is toxic and a
known human carcinogen, I am not
familiar with your situation and would
need to do research to determine your
specific request,” the statement reads. “I
am currently overwhelmed with personal
and professional responsibilities, and am
not able to take the time to research
and write a recommendation or give oral
testimony at this time.”
After hearing Dr. Avila’s testimony,
Deputy Mayor Sean Hoffman said he
would like to hear from a State Department
of Health rep at a future board meeting
before making a decision on the issue.
Continued on page 5
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