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Available at:
Church St.
Burlington
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Shall the City discontinue the practice of fluoridating the public water supply?
Vote YES Tuesday,
March 7th 7am-7pm
The fluoride solution added to our water, called hydrofluorosilicic acid, is an unprocessed, industrial waste-product from the pollution scrubbers of the phosphate fertilizer industry. Fluoride's primary 'benefits' are topical, not systemic. Thus, there is no need to swallow fluoride.
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11 unions representing more than 7,000 workers at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have called for a national suspension on water fluoridation. According to EPA's Headquarters Union, "in summary we believe that fluoridation is an unreasonable risk."
Fluoridated water is a danger to infants. In August of 2005, Burlington's Board of Health warned that exposure to fluoride during infancy is "a significant public health risk that should be given immediate attention by the city and state."
Adding fluoride to water violates the fundamental right of each person and family to make their own health care decisions. It also ignores the special needs and vulnerabilities of individuals with heightened sensitivity to fluoride (e.g. infants, people with kidney disease, people with allergies, etc).
Over 70 US communities have rejected water fluoridation since 2000, including Bennington and Brattleboro, Vermont. Two-thirds of US communities, when given the chance to vote, have voted against fluoridation. The vast majority of western Europe has rejected water fluoridation as well.
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