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Experts see
no scientific basis
for fluoridation fears
62 percent of the nation's
Inmate suicides down, prisons chief says
population uses fluoridated
drinking water today
Kids lobby for immersion schools
Briefly By Pat Omandam
Star-BulletinSince the early 1970s, Thelma Martindale has watched closely as city and state leaders have tried unsuccessfully to fluoridate Hawaii's drinking water. To her delight, none of the plans ever came close.
It's been a dozen years since the last fluoride proposal churned up controversy among state lawmakers, but now Martindale and the other members of Hawaii Citizens for Health -- which opposes any move to fluoridate drinking water -- find themselves fending off another attempt.
"We keep winning the battle, but the war goes on," said Martindale, who believes water fluoridation is harmful to people, especially children and the elderly.
This time, though, the effort is being led by Gov. Ben Cayetano, who believes fluoridation can reduce tooth decay in Hawaii by as much as 65 percent. With Cayetano openly calling for fluoridation in his State-of-the-State speech Monday, state and national health experts wasted little time in advocating for it this session.Thomas G. Reeves, a national fluoridation expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said yesterday there are numerous studies by national health and science agencies showing there are no problems with using fluoride in drinking water, including long-term effects.
An estimated 145 million people, or 62 percent of the nation's population, use fluoridated drinking water today. Among the major cities that fluoridate are San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Miami, Chicago, Detroit and Dallas.
"In fact, the elderly benefit from water fluoridation," Reeves said. "That's one of those things that was not widely known initially. As folks get older, the gums on the teeth recede and they're susceptible to what we call "root caries,' and water fluoridation helps prevent this."
State Health officials say 13 percent of Hawaii's residents now receive fluoridated water. Sources are limited to local military bases, which has been fluoridating water since the mid-1950s. Fluoridation was passed by the Territorial Legislature in 1955, but it was vetoed by then-Gov. Sam King. The last effort was before the 1987 state Legislature.
Exactly what does water fluoridation do? Mark H.K. Greer, chief of the state Dental Health Division, said the fluoride works by getting "incorporated" into the crystal structure of developing teeth, making them stronger. Greer said fluoridated toothpaste coats the outside of the tooth temporarily but is far less effective than fluoride tablets or drops -- or water fluoridation.
Martindale, however, sees fluoridation simply as the poisoning of drinking water. She has studied the subject extensively over the years and believes there is only a "narrow margin of safety" in regulating how much fluoride is introduced into water.
Since fluoride is a compound of fluorine -- a corrosive and toxic gaseous chemical -- Martindale said over-exposure can cause dental fluorosis, a condition that permanently yellows young teeth and only can be treated with cosmetic dentistry. She said the proposed fluoridation level of .7 percent is enough to cause the condition.
"And to think that they would deliberately add a poisonous substance to the drinking water when it would result in that high amount of damage to children's permanent teeth is just shocking," she said.
State Health Director Bruce Anderson countered that such unfounded fears are reasons why fluoridation hasn't yet occurred in Hawaii, and that "anecdotal information" about adverse effects has not been proven through scientific study. He added that fluoride will not affect the taste of drinking water The bottom line, Anderson said, is that fluoridation is the most cost-effective means of reducing tooth decay in Hawaii, which has twice the national average.
As proposed, the Health Department has set side $12.5 million from the state's tobacco settlement money to be used to reimburse counties for construction and operation of fluoridation water systems.
"I think there's been a stigma associated with fluoridation that's been a problem here in Hawaii ... And frankly, I think it's just lack of leadership and inertia in this area," Anderson said. "People are not prone to put things in their water supply unless there's a good reason for it."
Better procedures, training have helped reduce inmate suicides
By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-BulletinSeven inmates hanged themselves last year while serving time in island prisons -- a considerable increase over previous years.
However, Ted Sakai, director of the Department of Public Safety, today said since new procedures and training programs have been instituted, 11 suicide attempts were unsuccessful.
"This is because our staff was much more aware and sensitive," Sakai told members of the Senate Judiciary Committee this morning.
Sakai also noted that 340 inmates were placed on suicide watch due to better screening when inmates were first admitted.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Avery Chumbley noted that from 1989 to 1983 there were four suicides in island prisons and that 11 were recorded over the next five years.
Last year, seven inmates killed themselves with a rash of suicides occurring in February, including entertainer Mackey Feary.
Sakai said that one of the changes instituted was the reimplementation of mental health training for all staff who have inmate contact.
Other changes included retraining of adult corrections officers in the use of force, Sakai said.
In addition, Sakai said he has implemented a staff drug testing program and developed and maintained a schedule of drug searches, with 60 searches undertaken using dogs.
Sakai was before the Senate lawmakers to review the corrections department's progress in implementing changes recommended by the Senate Judiciary Committee last year following charges of inmate abuse by prison guards.
Last year, the Senate Judiciary Committee issued a 15-page report that did not detail any specific cases of alleged inmate abuse but called for better management and communication policy at the state's eight prisons.
Sakai today told lawmakers that last year there were only three cases of inmate abuse reported -- none of which required medical attention.
Still being conducted as a result of last year's Senate Judiciary Committee report is a financial and management audit of Sakai's department by Legislative Auditor Marian Higa.
Keiki in the Courtyard
250 CASES OF WHAT?: During the first week of the 2000 legislative session, 250 cases of paper were used to photocopy bills, Senate print shop manager Charles Taketa said. Briefly
Taketa worked a 24-hour shift yesterday.
Throughout the session, the Senate uses up to 2,000 cases of paper, Taketa said. Six photocopying machines with multiple features produce the vast amount of bills for legislators and the public.
Yesterday, Taketa ordered an additional 200 cases of paper. "Hopefully, that will last me for this week," Taketa said.
TAKE IT LIGHTLY: A photo of Mike Myers, known for his role in the movie "Austin Powers," and a picture of the Power Rangers decorate Jenny Quezon's cubicle to remind herself to take her job responsibilities with ease.
"You have to take it in stride," the information specialist said. She handles between 20 and 50 complaints a week.
Working in the governor's office since December 1994, Quezon said 60 percent of the complaints involve child support, welfare cuts and unemployment issues.
Fireworks also has been a main complaint, she said.
Quezon has worked for the departments of Land and Natural Resources and Commerce and Consumer Affairs.
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