The California Code of Regulations, title 22 lists 791 chemicals as "Hazardous Waste." 39 of these are fluoride compounds. Two are used for drinking water fluoridation in Sacramento CA. #384 Hydrofluosilicic Acid (X,C) and #674 Sodium Fluoride (X)
Fluorides are slightly more toxic than lead, and slightly less toxic than arsenic. - Clinical Toxicology of Commercial Products
Sacramento City Budget for Water Fluoridation
On July 1, 2010, the city of Sacramento Department of Utilities sent the Mayor & City Council members a memorandum. It detailed the cost of, chemicals used in, and ongoing maintenance cost of the Sacramento Water Fluoridation program. It also highlighted the vast waste inherent in the delivery of "fluoride" to the intended target. The intended target being water drinking children under five years of age. This memo was in response to a June 22nd budget hearing that resulted in a request for additional information regarding the program.
Highlights from the memo:
Fluoridation is not essential for the production of safe water.
Ten years ago the cost was estimated at $350,000 per year.
Fluoridation now costs approximately $1 million annually to the department.
Ongoing costly maintenance due to Fluoridation accounts for about half of total budget.
Due to corrosive nature of the fluoridation chemicals, the E.A Fairbairn Water Treatment Plant currently required a $450,000 infrastructure upgrade, and the Sacramento River Water Treatment Plant's fluoridation system will be due for replacement as well in 2014.
Sodium Fluoride & Fluorosilicic Acid are the chemicals used.
The fluoridation chemicals are routinely sourced from Japan & China.
Less than 0.009% of fluoridated water produced is potentially consumed by the target group of children age five and under. In other words over 99.99% of the fluoride is not used, but is wasted by watering the lawn & flushed down the drain, etc. See graph below.
The city should consider terminating the program due to budget issues, which can be done by written notice.
Note: In 2006 the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued a warning to parents of infants - that children under 12 months of age should not consume any fluoridated water. Fluoride ingestion during infancy unnecessary, and it can also be harmful - as suggested by a mounting body of evidence linking fluoride exposure during the first year of life with the development of dental fluorosis.
