Legislature(2005 - 2006)
02/28/2006 04:05 PM House HES
| Audio | Topic |
|---|---|
| Start | |
| HB442 | |
| HJR31 | |
| HB271 | |
| HCR5 | |
| Adjourn |
* first hearing in first committee of referral
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
+ teleconferenced
= bill was previously heard/scheduled
HCR 5-FLUORIDATION CHAIR WILSON announced that the final order of business would be HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 5, Relating to support of community water fluoridation. 4:54:38 PM KATHERINE SHOWS, Staff to Representative Paul Seaton, Alaska State Legislature presented HCR 5 on behalf of Representative Seaton, Prime Sponsor, paraphrasing from the sponsor statement, which read as follows [original punctuation provided]: House Concurrent Resolution 5 resolves to provide fluoridation in all Alaskan water systems. Fluoridated water has been shown to dramatically reduce dental carries, especially in children. It is one of the most efficient ways of providing cost effective preventative health care; every $1 spent on fluoridation saves $37 in future dental expenses. Currently, all cities in Alaska with a population exceeding 30,000 have access to fluoridated water. The benefits of fluoridated water should be extended to all Alaskans. HCR 5 would also require all new water systems to be engineered with the capacity for incorporating fluoride. Communities would not be required to add fluoride but would have the ability to do so at a later date without costly retrofitting. Tooth decay is a serious problem in Alaska, particularly in rural areas that do not exercise proper dental hygiene or eating habits, and where access to dentists is not available. Poor dental health puts a major burden upon Medicaid/Medicare programs. Fluoridating community water systems is an investment in Alaska's public health that produces great returns. HCR 5 makes it clear that the State supports communities in taking this step to improve the dental health of their residents. MS. SHOWS pointed out the letters of support in the committee packet, but also noted letters of opposition which she attributes to the fact that fluoride is a toxic chemical and can be harmful. She stated that the only known fatality from fluoride occurred in Hooper Bay, due to sustained over- fluoridation to the municipal water system. However, she noted that more strict regulations have been implemented by the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), since the Hooper Bay incident, which should preclude a recurrence of that type. Finally, she said that fluoride has been used in public water systems for about sixty years, its effectiveness is statistically supported by numerous studies, and 17 states currently require fluoridation in their public water systems. 4:57:18 PM CHAIR WILSON pointed out that this bill in no way mandates a community to fluoridate their water, but does require that all new water systems be engineered to allow for the future administration of fluoride. 4:58:03 PM REPRESENTATIVE GARDNER stated her support for the resolution, but expressed a concern for fluoridation and provided a brief history of her experience in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where clinical fluoride levels are natural to the water presenting adverse effects to some residents. 4:59:01 PM REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING asked whether one of the primary chemical components of fluoride is not also a primarily ingredient in rat poison. Further, he asked why it would be necessary to drink, bathe, and otherwise inundate our bodies via a systemic intake of fluoride versus requesting a topical, localized, personal application by a dental care provider. MS. SHOWS responded that she is not familiar with the contents of rat poison. She said that the levels of fluoride provided in community water systems are at a low level and not considered harmful to humans. She pointed out that one of the greatest benefits of fluoride in a public water system is for people who do not have alternative access to fluoride or regular dental care. REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING stated, "I'd be very concerned about having my children consume a chemical." Further, he asked if the sponsor had completed an in-depth analysis of the potential health risks associated with systemic ingestion of fluoride. MS. SHOWS stated that the health problems are primarily fluorosis, which is a discoloration of the teeth, and possible bone density loss. She maintained that the Hooper Bay incident was an anomaly which cannot occur again provided the new administration standards. She reiterated that this is a bill which allows each community to choose fluoridation and does not impose a mandate. REPRESENTATIVE KOHRING maintained his concern for encouraging the use of a chemical that carries a risk for potential health problems. He also questioned the oversight for its proper administration into the public water supply, and the possibility for concentrations of fluoride to occur in different parts of a water system. 5:03:50 PM REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA has primarily lived where fluoridation is utilized, and the dentists and health professionals that she has consulted support the use of fluoride. She described the problems that she has witnessed in the remote villages due to the lack of dental care, where an eroded dental condition often results in a patient undergoing a costly emergency medical evacuation. 5:06:08 PM WILLIAM MARLEY, Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS), Chairman, Fluoridation Committee, Alaska Dental Society (ADS), stated support for HCR 5, which does not impose a mandate, or represent a cost to the state, but does provide leadership for state agencies to function in a unified manner. He suggested that the committee refer to the booklet Fluoride Facts, published in 1999, by the American Dental Association (ADA), for an in-depth understanding of the benefits of fluoridation. One study done in Alaska has indicated that children who drink fluoridated water experience 50 percent less dental disease. He maintained that fluoridation is an effective means to help people curb dental disease, especially if they fall in a lower socio- economic, class or otherwise have limited access to dental care. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has begun the Healthy Families Initiative (HFI) which has issued a goal to fluoridate 75 percent of the United States water supply systems by the year 2010. The Alaska Department of Health and Social Services has signed onto the HFI. 5:11:33 PM DR. MARLEY acknowledged the Hooper Bay casualty and explained how the oversight has been corrected with a certified two- operator system designed to eliminate errors in administration of this toxic chemical. He also described the natural fluoridated water phenomena of the southwest United States, explaining how in some cases the fluoride is removed as the recommended dosage is only one part per million. This allows for minimal incidents of negative health side effects, which, he opined, are overridden by the dental health benefits. Continuing, he stressed that by encouraging the bush communities to fluoridate their water supplies, the dental needs of the residents would be reduced to the point that the dental care available in any village would be adequate. Finally, he pointed out that Article 7, Section 2, of the Alaska State Constitution says that "the legislature shall provide for the promotion and protection of the public health," and to that end, studies show that healthy teeth play an important role. The committee took an at-ease from 5:18:12 PM to 5:18:37 PM 5:18:38 PM REPRESENTATIVE CISSNA moved to report HCR 5, Version 24LS0327\Y out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying fiscal notes. There being no objection, HCR 5, Version Y was moved out of the House Health, Education and Social Services Standing Committee.
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