New Orleans Not Only City Without Fluoride

In July, the New Orleans Times-Picayune revealed that fluoride has not been added to the stricken city's drinking water since Hurricane Katrina. Yet another failure of government to respond to the needs of disaster victims? Not this time. It seems that New Orleans had stopped adding fluoride to its water for the same reason as many other U.S. cities -- they couldn't get any.

A shrinking supply has resulted in higher fluoride prices and, as the Times-Picayune reported, "sparked a consumer frenzy, with water utilities across the country rushing to stockpile fluorides..."

Like in Evansville, Indiana, where the Courier & Press reports they have been without fluoride since February, and goes on to note, "Evansville is not alone in having unfluoridated water. A shortage of the compound, most often created as a byproduct of phosphate mining, has been reported in cities in New York, Florida, Washington and throughout the Midwest."

Fluoride Good - Fluoride Bad
Many public health experts believe that the addition of fluoride to drinking water helps prevent tooth decay and promotes overall dental health. Other equally expert health officials contend that fluoride not only does not prevent tooth decay, it can contribute other more serious health problems. As far as the U.S. government is concerned, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) strongly supports the fluoridation of drinking water, and feels the current shortage will be short-lived.

Update: By August 4, New Orleans water officials had found enough fluoride to begin restoring it into their water supply. By August 16, they had run out again and are now looking for more.

Also See: HUD Relives FEMA of Katrina Housing Relief Efforts