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Highland Park Dismisses Claims On Anti-Fluoride Poster

UPDATED 11/9/10 12:29 p.m.

HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (CBS) - The City of Highland Park is dismissing the claims on a poster that is appearing in the northern suburb, which claim fluoridation in the water supply amounts to "poisoning."

As WBBM Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser reports, the yellow and black poster claims in boldface letters that "there is poison in the tap water." It features an ominous outline of a water spigot with a skull and crossbones on it.

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"Fluoride is a dangerous substance and the active ingredient in most insecticides!" the poster says. It claims as little as 0.1 ounces of fluoride can kill a 100-pound adult, and that neurological damage can result. The poster claims further that the notion that fluoride in the water strengthens teeth is a "fiction."

The City of Highland Park says the poster is incorrect and misleading.

"Since 1967, Illinois law has required that public water supplies be fluoridated," Highland Park says in a news release. "There is universal support of the value of water fluoridation within the medical, dental and public health communities."

Fluoride occurs naturally in Lake Michigan at a concentration of 1.2 milligrams, or about 0.00004 ounces, per liter, the Chicago Tribune reported. While large doses might cause health issues, the City of Highland Park only uses a minute amount, assistant to the Highland Park public works director Annette Cardiff told the Chicago Tribune.

The anti-fluoride poster was produced by Infowars.com, a website operated by right wing radio host Alex Jones. Jones and his websites have been criticized for advancing a variety of anti-government conspiracy theories, to the point where the Anti-Defamation League has said he "may currently well be the most prominent conspiracy theorist in the United States."

WBBM Newsradio 780's Mike Krauser contributed to this report.

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