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Residents of a small community in Vermont were shocked last month by news that an official from their water department had quietly lowered fluoride levels nearly four years ago.
Kendall Chamberlin, Richmond’s water and wastewater inspector, admitted to lowering levels of fluoride because of his concerns about the compound in the water and that it originated in China.
Richmond townspeople worried about their children’s dental health as misinformation and conspiracy theories about water fluoridation grow rapidly.
The addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems has been routine in communities across the United States since the 1940s and 1950s.
But some people don’t support the change, and many countries don’t fluoridate water for a variety of reasons, including feasibility.
Critics argue that the health effects of fluoride are not fully known and that its addition to municipal water may amount to an undesirable medication.
Kendall Chamberlin, Richmond’s water and wastewater inspector, said he has lowered levels because he believes recommended levels ‘are not warranted at this time’
A Richmond city worker comes under fire for lowering fluoride levels in drinking water to below state-recommended levels for more than three years
Most water naturally contains some fluoride, but usually not enough to prevent cavities
Some communities have ended the practice in recent years – In 2015, the US government lowered the recommended amount in drinking water after some children got too much of it, causing white spots on their teeth.
While such stains are primarily a cosmetic problem, the American Dental Association notes on its website that fluoride — along with life-giving substances such as salt, iron and oxygen — can be toxic in large doses.
But in recommended amounts, fluoride in water reduces cavities or tooth decay by about 25%, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They also reported in 2018 that 73% of the US population was served by water systems with enough fluoride to protect teeth.
Chamberlin said he doesn’t think the state-recommended level of fluoride is warranted at this point.
“It is my duty to use reasonable care and judgment to protect the public health, safety and the environment of my customers,” he said, adding that “prudence is not wrong.”
Two of the three fluoride additives that U.S. water systems can use actually come from China because they have no domestic manufacturers.
But they are subject to rigorous standards, testing and certification to ensure safety, CDC spokesman Tracy Boehmer said in an email.
Spokespersons for the Vermont Department of Health agreed that all additives must meet those national standards.
Chamberlin’s decision stunned residents and doctors.
“It is inappropriate for one person to unilaterally decide that this public health benefit is not justified. I think it’s outrageous,” said retired Dr. Allen Knowles at the September 19 meeting.
He said he has an 8-month-old granddaughter who he believes was getting plenty of fluoridated water.
A city commission has voted to fully fluoridate water again after outcry from some residents
“Fluoride is again one of the most successful and important public health measures ever taken in this country,” Knowles said.
‘The reduction in dental disease is simply indisputable. You don’t determine safety based on the opinion of one person or one study or this or that.’
Resident Kate Mather said her dentist recently found her two children’s first cavities.
Her dentist “worked and made professional recommendations based on state standards that we all assumed were adhered to, which were not the case,” she said.
Most water naturally contains some fluoride, but usually not enough to prevent cavities.
The mineral was first added to public water in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in 1945.
Now it’s commonplace, though it’s more common in some states than others; According to the United Health Foundation, Oregon, New Jersey and Hawaii have the lowest percentage of residents with fluoridated water.
Fluoride is also added to toothpaste and other topical products and is in some foods.
In sparsely populated and largely rural Vermont, 29 of the 465 public water systems voluntarily fluoridate, and just over half of residents served by a public system receive fluoridated water, according to the Vermont Department of Health.
The state’s standard level is based on federal recommendations.
Cities that fluoridate must stay within state recommendations and submit monthly reports to the Department of Health.
Robin Miller, the now retired director of the Office of Oral Health, had tried to work with Chamberlin and his team in Richmond, “and things would improve for a while, but fall back,” she said.
Miller said she didn’t know until March of this year that the city’s fluoride count had been consistently low for that long.
After a state visit in April, levels did not improve, so Miller contacted Richmond’s city manager in June, requesting her to attend the meeting in September, she said.
At the second meeting on Monday, the meeting where Katie Mather expressed concern about her children’s teeth, Chamberlin – who does not live in town and appeared online – read an apology.
“Words cannot express how sorry I am for causing this controversy,” he said. “Believe me when I say that I’ve always had only good intentions based on a misunderstanding. I promise to make sure nothing like this ever happens again.’
A former Richmond employee who worked under Chamberlin pointed out that the monthly report is reviewed by the city manager and goes to the state.
“It’s not one man who does what he wants. He takes these reports to his boss, who signs them,” said Erik Bailey, now the village manager in Johnson.
City manager Josh Arneson said Chamberlin or other staffers always told him the levels were acceptable. He said he first heard from the state in June about the consistently low levels.
The committee voted to fully fluoridate the water again. It is not clear whether someone can have professional consequences; personnel matters were discussed in closed session.