Recent News (in reverse-chronological order)

November 25, 2011—Local physician Eloise Kailin wrote a letter to the US Human Health Services requesting that all fluoridation products be classified as drugs. App. C to letter

November 17, 2011—Protect the Peninsula’s Future, Clallam County Citizens for Safe Drinking Water and Sequim physician Eloise Kailin appealed to the State Supreme Court to overturn the Superior Court’s ruling regarding the definition of fluoride compounds as drugs.

October 13, 2011—A growing number of communities are choosing to stop adding fluoride to their water systems, “I’m in opposition to putting a medical treatment into the public drinking water supply without a vote of the people who drink that water,” said Norm Roche, a newly elected Republican county commissioner who spent 10 years doing policy research for the county Water Department. more

June 17, 2011—Washington Superior Court dismissed the lawsuit (challenging the use of fluoride in Port Angeles and Forks) on the basis of a 1954 State Supreme Court ruling they could not overturn, declaring that fluoride, used to fluoridate water, is not a drug. Appealed 11-17-2011

April 28, 2011— Protect the Peninsula’s Future, Clallam County Citizens for Safe Drinking Water and retired Sequim physician Eloise Kailin filed a lawsuit Thursday in Clallam County Superior Court challenging the use of fluoride in the Port Angeles and Forks communities on the basis that it does not meet other state criteria. more

March 3, 2011—The Kaiser State Health Facts web site shows Washington State having the highest Alzheimer's death rate in the nation. This horrendous fact may arise from fluoride. Many Washington cities fluoridate their water. Calcium in water blocks the assimilation of fluoride. Both Washington and Oregon have soft water but Washington has low calcium levels resulting in greater fluoride assimilation whereas Oregon doesn't allow fluoridation. Oregon has only 276 deaths per 100,000 individuals compared with 407 for Washington. See data for all states.

January 10, 2011—In response to objections by FAN, EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs proposed a ban on the use of sulfuryl fluoride (a pesticide used to kill insects in stored food products) based on their findings that children are overexposed. This is the first time EPA has ever granted an objection. more

January 7, 2011—The EPA / Health Dept. admitted there is too much fluoride in our water! They propose a first-ever reduction in the maximum from 1.2 to 0.7 ppm. Researchers found the percentage of (12-15 year old children affected by) fluorosis has risen dramatically to 41%—more Here are estimates of the number of Washington State children who would be affected by fluorosis and what their teeth would look like.

January 3, 2011—Dr. Eloise Kailin and other environmentalists, on behalf of Protect the Peninsula's Future, met with state representatives Van De Wege and Tharinger, who seemed very receptive to points made about fluoridation and the initiative process.  See Dr. Kailin's presentation.

Dec. 28, 2010—The Supreme Court denied our request to reconsider its decision: fluoridation is an administrative issue and thus is not subject to the initiative process.  Although we will not get to vote on either initiative to stop fluoridation, the fight against fluoridation is not over. Stay tuned to see what our next approach will be. See our press release for more info.

Oct. 27, 2010—We received a letter from the Supreme Court indicating that it will consider our "motion to modify" (which refers to who pays court costs).  We still await notification of whether the Court will reconsider its 5 to 4 ruling not to allow the initiatives to go to the ballot.

Oct. 26, 2010—Another city abandoned fluoridated water!  After 44 years of fluoridating water, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada voted out the practice despite strong support by the Ontario Dental Association and the local newspaper, The Record. More

Oct. 26, 2010—The Washington State Supreme Court has accepted an amicus brief submitted on behalf of 7 organizations supporting our motion asking the Court to reconsider its recent decision.  Acceptance of these amici suggests the Court will reconsider its decision (our claim: the court might have overlooked key points). All we need is for one justice to change his/her decision to make the outcome go in our favor and to bring the initiatives to the citizens for a vote.

Oct. 18, 2010—Clallam County Citizens for Safe Drinking Water today issued a press release naming 7 organizations that filed Amici in support of Port Angeles citizen initiatives, Our Water-Our Choice! and Protect Our Waters, in a request to the state Supreme Court to re-consider its denial of allowing the initiatives to be on the ballot.

Sept. 24, 2010—Article about the Supreme Court Decision published in the Peninsula Daily News.

Sept. 23, 2010—The Washington Supreme Court Decision, announced today, went against Protect Our Waters and Our Water, Our Choice.  Although this is a setback, the decision was split 5 to 4 and persuasive arguments were presented by the 4 justices who dissented (see p. 17).  This by no means ends the fight--several approaches are being considered and will be posted here shortly.

Aug. 22, 2010—A document recently made available, the American Water Works Association Standard for Fluorosilicic Acid, indicates how FSA is a byproduct in the manufacture of phosphate fertilizer. It describes the extreme measures & safety gear required for handling FSA. It also indicates the maximum levels for contaminants.

July 22, 2010—Concerns over insoluble contents in fluoride products from China prompted Amesbury, Mass to stop fluoridating their water.  See news report and video.

July 11, 2010—Clallam County Citizens for Safe Drinking Water sent a press release to the Peninsula Daily News on June 21 indicating that the group was re-activating because of specific safety concerns. Although News Assistant Mike Carman indicated that he would include these concerns, they were omitted from the newspaper notice. More

July 8, 2010—Clallam  County Citizens for Safe Drinking Water is incorporated. More

July 4, 2010—An article in Time magazine (April 1, 2010) listed fluoride from toothpaste and water as #4 among the top 10 common household toxins. Fluoride was indicated as being neurotoxic and possibly tumorigenic when swallowed. It was also pointed out that the ADA advises that children under 2 not use toothpaste containing fluoride. 

July 4, 2010—Palaeopathological evidence for fluorosis has been found in what is now Bahrain, where ancient people drank naturally-fluoridated water at what is now considered an optimal and safe level for prevention of caries. However, a report in Forensic Ecologist, January 2010 shows that up to 80% had caries, around 50% of the teeth showed dental fluorosis, and skeletal fluorosis was fairly common.

July 4, 2010—The European Court of Justice ruled that fluoridated water must be considered a medicine.  Read an analysis by Doug Cross, which is followed by links to his references as well as links for the original court judgment, the opinion of the Advocate General, and a review by two British lawyers.

July 1, 2010—Dr. Mercola and Dr. Paul Connett discuss fluoride damage to the bones, brain, kidneys, and thyroid. See video

July1, 2010—The Center for Disease Control reported results from a nationwide survey (1999-2004) showing that 41% of children 12-15 had dental fluorosis--nearly double the rate in the 1980s.  Dental fluorosis has increased since fluoridation started in the 1940s, raising concerns about toxicity.  See this extraction from a report by the Fluoride Action Network.

June 21, 2010—The Clallam County Citizens for Safe Drinking Water sent a Press Release to the Peninsula Daily News with information about the re-activation of the group and the reasons for doing so.

June 9, 2010—Attorney Gerald Steel wrote a letter to the Washington Board of Health (on behalf of Clallam County Citizens for Safe Drinking Water) asking the Board to amend the Washington Administrative Code to require FDA approval for all drugs, including fluoride, intended to treat disease.

Feb. 23, 2010—The Washington State Supreme Court heard our case. Their decision is pending.  Watch a video of the hearing.

Sept. 4, 2009—Gerald Steele and James Robert Deal (lawyers), Dr. Eloise Kailin (retired physician),  Lynn Lohr (a nurse with fluoride hypersensitivity), and Randy C. Smart (analyst) met with Senator Murray aides currently reviewing a medical bill containing allocations for fluoridation. The aides were courteous and receptive and discussed fluoride's history and controversies. A review of facts and perspectives led to a consensus that fluoridation was, at minimum, controversial. The aides will recommend to the Senator that fluoride funding be barred from the health care bill unless allocated for valid testing.

May 23, 2009—The European Court ruled that food (also having a medicinal function --including fluoridated water) must be labeled and regulated as medicines. The Court is vigorously working towards ending fluoridation in Great Britain. This ruling could help our drive to get fluoride labeled as a medicine.  More

May 4, 2009—Dr. Eloise Kailin news release: The Supreme Court (State of Washington) agreed to hear an appeal of the decision denying citizens the right to vote on two initiatives. The rights to obtain initiative and referendum were obtained by petitions signed by over half the registered voters and adopted by the City in July 2006. By 9-11-06, two initiatives were certified as having sufficient signatures to put to a vote. Then the City and Washington State Dental Foundation derailed the political process by pursuing a lawsuit. The Supreme Court has now agreed to decide if citizens can vote on the certified initiatives.

May 1, 2009—The Washington Supreme Court accepted our appeal and will hear our case.  This is great news because it means that our arguments must have been persuasive enough for them to review the ruling of the Court of Appeals!  Some of the rules that apply are given here. 

Feb. 10, 2009—A statement was sent by Dr. Hardy Limeback, Head of Preventive Dentistry at the University of Toronto, to the UK's South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA). Dr. Limeback argued against fluoridating the Southampton area, pointing out that fluoridation was no longer effective, it causes fluorosis, fluoridation chemicals have not been tested for safety, and there are serious health risks. Despite his statement and the SHA’s own survey indicating that 72% of the population was opposed, the SHA voted on February 26, 2009 to force fluoridation on Southampton area citizens. More

Feb. 10, 2009—With the election of a new county commissioner, Skagit County rescinded its decision to fluoridate, made two years ago. Congratulations to all the citizens who refused to give up despite the odds against them from local newspapers and the powerful dental lobby. If it can be done in Skagit County, it can be done in Port Angeles! More