Portland, Ore., approves adding fluoride to water

Sep 12, 2012, 6:08 PM

Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) – The City Council approved a plan Wednesday to add fluoride to Portland’s water, meaning Oregon’s biggest city is no longer the largest holdout in the U.S.

The ordinance calls for city water to be fluoridated by March 2014.

Health experts say fluoride is effective against decay. Opponents of public fluoridation say it’s unsafe and violates an individual’s right to consent to medication.

Opponents also say council members rushed into action without a public vote. They plan to collect signatures to force a referendum in May 2014.

Voters in Portland twice rejected fluoridation before approving it in 1978. But that plan was overturned before any fluoride was ever added to the water.

Portland’s drinking water already contains naturally occurring fluoride, though not at levels considered to be effective at fighting cavities.

Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish, who co-sponsored the plan, has said more than 200 million Americans drink water with added fluoride, and it doesn’t appear to have caused great harm. Most mainstream health organizations, such as the American Medical Association and American Dental Association, endorse it as safe.

Public fluoridation came up this week in Phoenix when a public stir prompted re-examination of a policy in place since 1989. After a contentious hearing Tuesday, council members voted to continue adding fluoride to the water in the nation’s sixth-largest city.

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

United States News

Keanu Reeves, the star of "John Wick: Chapter 4," wears a blue ribbon on his lapel in tribute to hi...
Associated Press

‘John Wick’ stars honor late co-star Lance Reddick

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne were among the died unexpectedly last week, at the film’s Los Angeles premiere. “We lost our brother, and in a really sort of very shocking way. I think we’re all still in shock. “Life is,” the visibly-shaken Fishburne said, pausing briefly before continuing, “hard sometimes.” Many […]
1 day ago
FILE - Gwyneth Paltrow arrives at the 26th annual ELLE Women in Hollywood Celebration at the Four S...
Associated Press

Gwyneth Paltrow to stand trial for Deer Valley ski crash

PARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow is scheduled to stand trial on Tuesday in a lawsuit filed by a retired optometrist who said that the actress-turned-lifestyle influencer violently crashed into him in 2016 while skiing in Utah at one of the most upscale ski resorts in the United States. Terry Sanderson, 76, said Paltrow […]
1 day ago
Indiana's Mackenzie Holmes (54) shoots against Miami's Kyla Oldacre (44) during the first half of a...
Associated Press

Miami shocks top-seed Indiana in March Madness

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Destiny Harden made a shot in the lane with 3.5 seconds left to send ninth-seeded Miami past top-seeded Indiana 70-68 on Monday night, lifting the Hurricanes to their first Sweet 16 since 1992. The Hoosiers (28-4) became the second No. 1 seed to be eliminated in two nights. Stanford was upset […]
1 day ago
(AP Photo/Bernat Armangue)...
Associated Press

World on ‘thin ice’ as UN climate report gives strong warning

Humanity still has a chance to prevent the worst of climate change’s future harms, a top United Nations panel of scientists said Monday.
1 day ago
Sylvia Garcia, from Bassett Street Elementary, talks as she and other teachers attend a Los Angeles...
Associated Press

Los Angeles schools to close as district workers plan strike

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tens of thousands of workers in the Los Angeles Unified School District planned to walk off the job Tuesday over stalled contract talks, and they will be joined in solidarity by teachers in a three-day strike that will shut down the nation’s second-largest school system. Demonstrations are expected at schools across […]
1 day ago
FILE - The Tennessee state Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., is shown on Jan. 8, 2020. Tennessee Republi...
Associated Press

Tennessee House OKs narrow abortion exemption bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s GOP-dominant House on Monday advanced legislation that would add a narrow exemption to the state’s strict abortion ban, despite concerns raised by Democrats and medical experts that the bill does not go far enough to protect doctors and pregnant patients. The legislation was drastically reworked from its original version that […]
1 day ago

Sponsored Articles

(Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona Photo)...
Desert Institute for Spine Care in Arizona

5 common causes for chronic neck pain

Neck pain can debilitate one’s daily routine, yet 80% of people experience it in their lives and 20%-50% deal with it annually.
...
Day & Night Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing

Company looking for oldest air conditioner and wants to reward homeowner with new one

Does your air conditioner make weird noises or a burning smell when it starts? If so, you may be due for an AC unit replacement.
(Photo via MLB's Arizona Fall League / Twitter)...
Arizona Fall League

Top prospects to watch at this year’s Arizona Fall League

One of the most exciting elements of the MLB offseason is the Arizona Fall League, which began its 30th season Monday.
Portland, Ore., approves adding fluoride to water