BOH Agenda 032520 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Public Health Framework for Community Water Fluoridation During this process, Board of Health members considered the Board's duty as a governing body to protect and promote the health of the community and what ethical obligations the Board should consider in creating a recommendation. The Ad Hoc Fluoride Committee reviewed An Ethics Framework for Public Health ' article by Nancy E. Kass, ScD. The framework poses six questions to consider when health professionals want to consider the morality in how to respond to a public health issue. (See Attachment 19) Those six questions were answered in regards to Community Water Fluoridation. 1. What are the public health goals of Community Water Fluoridation? Community water fluoridation has been a benefit to communities since the 1950s. The goal of community water fluoridation is prevention of tooth decay. While fluoride is found naturally in water, it is not found at high enough levels to be effective against tooth decay. In fact, according to OWASA, "Fluoride naturally present in groundwater ranges up to more than 12 parts per million (ppm). Fluoride in rivers and other surface water may range up to 1.4 ppm. Fluoride in OWASA's reservoirs is below the detectable level."5 Adjusting the level of fluoride in community water through water supply systems has been researched and found to be an effective public health intervention.2 2. How effective is the Community Water Fluoridation in achieving its goals? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Z, fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25% among children and adults. Fluoride also helps with reducing cavities, less severe cavities, less need for fillings and removing teeth, and less pain and suffering because of tooth decay. 3. What are the known or potential burdens of Community Water Fluoridation? 9