Hartland Township Fluoride Decision Continues to Produce Waves

The Hartland Township Board of Trustees were praised and criticized over their decision in two letters to the editor published this week in the Livingston County Daily Press & Argus.

Dr. William L. Metz, executive director of the Livingston District Dental Society, said he was "outraged" with the vote.

"It has been proven that fluoridation helps fight tooth decay and helps prevent more serious health problems that may occur as a result," wrote Metz, also a Hartland resident. "Water fluoridation has been recognized by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th century due to its ability to prevent tooth decay."

In contrast, Fowlerville resident Hayes Hobolth praised the trustees for letting residents decide, suggesting other factors are behind fluoride.

"The aluminum industry has a lot of fluoride as a byproduct to sell and it has found a lot of buyers," he wrote. "Then there are the makers of lab equipment to measure the levels accurately ($30,000 possible expense pending), even though the 'optimum' level depends on how much is already in the water, how old you are, what you brush your teeth with, your age and your genetic profile."

The letters follow a mLive column that .