E-mail correspondence to Lord Mayor Clover Moore
[–]

Dear Clover,

Firstly, congratulations on your win in the recent election. I continue to vote for you as you consistently deliver on improving the City of Sydney.

I live in Pyrmont and my primary mode of transport is cycling. I can’t thank you enough for enhancing our City with cycleways. I hope you continue to expand the cycleways network and (the more challenging task) of working with surrounding councils to adopt and interconnect them with the City.

However, I am actually writing you on another matter. One that does not receive much attention and for most people is never considered; Water fluoridation.

It’s a topic very similar to the nuclear debate, those for a nuclear future talk about zero-emissions during plant operation, but do not discuss the devastating environment impact of first mining and enriching the uranium (which consumes large amounts of fossil fuels, emits copious amounts of CO2 and is water intensive) nor the environmental consequences in dealing with the nuclear waste once the fuel rods are spent.

Fluoride is no different. It is toxic and and has caused more damage to livestock and vegetation than any other air pollutant. The so-called health benefits of fluoridated water is undermined by use of disodium hexafluorosilicate or hexafluorosilic acid in public water treatment. This type of fluoride is a by-product of the phosphate industry and is of no health benefit.

Water fluoridation is only practiced in a handful of countries, namely the United States, Canada and Australia. Continental Europe does not practice water fluoridation.
I would like to see the practice cease for the whole of Australia, but that is too big a feat. On a local level, I would like to think it is an issue you would be willing to tackle under environment and sustainability at least for Sydney’s water supply.

I also encourage you to watch this interview on the topic with Dr. Paul Connett, Professor of Chemistry at St. Lawrence University in New York.

Regards,
Trent Renshaw