[All] Environmental Commissioner of Ontario comments on Artificial Water Fluoridation in Annual Report 2009-10

[Carole Clinch]

Environmental Commissioner of Ontario Annual 2009-2010 Report: Supplement,
p248-9. http://www.eco.on.ca/eng/uploads/eng_pdfs/2010/2010%20Supp.pdf

 *5.2.5 Review of MOE Policies or Regulations under the Safe Drinking Water
Act, 2002 as they*

*Relate to Inorganic Fluorides in Drinking Water*

 *(Review Undertaken by MOE)*


 Background/Summary of Issues

 In November 2007, two applicants requested that MOE review existing
policies, regulations and standards (as well as the need for new regulations
and policies) under the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002 (SDWA) as they relate
to the addition of inorganic fluorides (and any other accompanying
contaminants) to drinking water.

 Although Japan, China, 98 per cent of Europe, and some Ontario cities
(e.g., Welland, Thorold and Dryden) have banned or stopped adding fluoride
to drinking water, several municipalities in Ontario continue this practice.
Most fluoridated communities in Ontario add hydrofluorosilicic acid (an
inorganic fluoride) to their drinking water. The applicants assert that the
“additions of toxic inorganic [vs. Organic] fluorides…with its accompanying
contaminants such as inorganic arsenic and lead into our drinking water”
have:

 • resulted in increased contamination of groundwater, surface water and
sewage effluent to waterbodies and natural environments;

• caused significant harm to water bodies, groundwater sources and the life
therein; and

• caused harm to the health of certain subsets of the population, including
babies, pregnantwomen, fetuses and the elderly.

 Ministry Response

 MOE agreed to undertake this review in February 2008. The ministry
indicated that Health Canada, assecretariat to the
Federal-Provincial-Territorial Committee on Drinking Water (CDW), was
revising thetechnical support document for the Canadian Drinking Water
Quality Guideline for fluoride and was expected to conduct a national
consultation within two years. MOE stated that the Government of Ontario
participates on the CDW and will consider the applicants’ comments before
undertaking a provincial consultation via the Environmental Registry. MOE
noted that this provincial consultation “will be carried out at the same
time as Health Canada conducts the national consultation.” The ministry
stated that comments received through the provincial public consultation, as
well as materials provided in the application, will be considered by the
province in setting new policies regarding fluoride in drinking water.

 In September 2009, MOE posted an information notice on the Environmental
Registry (#010-7777)informing the public and stakeholders that Health Canada
was consulting the public on its technicalsupport document “Fluoride in
Drinking Water.” Health Canada’s national consultation period was heldfor 71
days, ending November 27, 2009. In the information notice, MOE indicated
that it would carry out its own consultation under an Environmental Registry
policy proposal notice once the Health Canada document had been finalized.
The ministry stated that it will use information provided by Health Canada’s
consultation to review and amend, if necessary, its position on fluoridation
as outlined in the ministry’s “Technical Support Document for Ontario
Drinking Water Standards, Objectives and Guidelines.”

 In January 2010, MOE sent a letter to the applicants to update them on the
status of their application forreview. MOE explained that Health Canada was
in the process of compiling and reviewing the manycomments it had received.
Moreover, the ministry noted that Health Canada was responding to a federal
petition regarding fluoride, which could delay the review and finalization
of Health Canada’s rationale document for at least a year. The ministry
noted that this delay would in turn delay MOE’s review of fluoride. MOE
assured the applicants that it is still committed to reviewing any new
information cited in the final version of Health Canada’s rationale document
that may have an impact on provincial policies regarding the fluoridation of
Ontario’s drinking water. Moreover, the ministry stated that if this review
results in any changes to policies related to inorganic fluorides in
drinking water, it will conduct a stakeholder consultation on the
Environmental Registry.

 ECO Comment

The ECO will review the handling of this application once the ministry has
completed its review.


-- 
Carole
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