Dear Chapel Hill Town Council,

We understand that you, as a governing body, are not completely in control of OWASA policies, though we do understand that you are influential and represent the will of the people. We hereby petition that all fluoride based compounds be removed from the tap water in Chapel Hill, NC (simply by not putting fluoride based chemicals in the tap water). We are providing a few online citations of academic research showing how accumulation of fluoride in the body over time leads to a number of negative health effects. These effects include but are not limited to, reduced thyroid activity, increase in the rate of bone cancer, skeletal fluorosis and damage to brain cells (reduction of IQ in children). Not only are fluoride compounds harmful to humans, but taxpayers are forced to pay for this otherwise toxic waste. Fluoride is a poisonous, industrial byproduct that chemical companies would have to pay to dispose of properly if they didn't sell it to be put in tap water. Communities across the country have decided to refuse to put fluoride in their water supplies. We ask that OWASA do the same. Some argue that fluoride is beneficial for one's teeth. This may be true, but that doesn't mean that it should be ingested. It builds up in the body over time, accumulating in the bones. The academic research is clear, and even if you want to argue that it's mixed, do you really think that anything questionable should be forced upon everyone's water supply? I hope you don't.

Sincerely, The people of Chapel Hill, NC.

References:

http://www.fluoridealert.org/
www.fluoridealert.org/re/mundy-epa.neurotoxicant.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_fluoridation_controversy
http://www.mbschachter.com/dangers_of_fluoride_and_fluorida.htm

"Cancer Causes and Control", an online peer-review journal of Harvard University. Elise B. Bassin,

^Gosselin, R. E.; Smith, R. P.; Hodge, H. C. (1984).Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products. Williams & Wilkins. pp.III–185–93.ISBN0683036327.

Nochimson, Geofrey (11 May 2011)."Fluoride Toxicity".emedicine. Retrieved 2011-05-19.

http://www.neurologyindia.com/article.asp?issn=0028-3886;year=2009;volume=57;issue=1;spage=7;epage=12;aulast=Reddy

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/814774-overview#a0101

http://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/unna/1045

Eisler, Ronald (February 1995).Biological Report 27: Sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) Hazards to Fish, Wildlife and Invertebrates: A Synoptic Review(Report). Patuxent Environmental Science Center (U.S. National Biological Service). Retrieved 2011-06-05.

Examples of other townships outlawing municipal water fluoridation:

http://www.ewg.org/news/flushing-out-fluoride

A detailed report of the effects of fluoride:

http://download.nap.edu/cart/download.cgi?&record_id=11571&free=1


P.S.

Fluoride is a poison. I, the original author of the petition, Parker Emmerson, refuse to drink fluoridated water. I have to go out of my way to get reverse-osmosis filtered water (usually at Wholefoods). This makes me spend time and gas money. I personally don't think I should have to drive over two miles to get water.