GEOL 5900 Seminar Presentations 4PM HSH 336
Ben Gooley 4:00- 4:30 pm (M.Sc. ENVS)
Community Water Fluoridation: Friend or Foe?
Community Water Fluoridation (CWF) is a controversial topic in popular media and scientific literature. Advocates praise fluoride’s dental health benefits, whereas critics argue about its potential neurotoxic effects. CWF is a long-standing public health intervention that protects populations from dental caries (tooth decay). Fluoride interacts with the enamel through the remineralization process, creating resistance to acid attacks from bacteria, sugar, and plaque. It is widely accepted in oral scientific literature that CWF reduces dental caries rates by 26-35%. Drinking water fluoridation has the benefit of equitably distributing dental healthcare in a community regardless of an individual’s socioeconomic background. CWF is also cost-effective; for example, €2.95 million in health care costs were saved in Ireland in 2021. Collectively, scientific and epidemiological data that supports CWF has resulted in the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considering water fluoridation one of the ten most successful public health measures of the 20th century.
However, in recent years, controversial peer-reviewed research has correlated IQ deficits in children with fluoride concentrations in drinking water within the range of Canada’s acceptable limits. The general public have also expressed concerns about state-prescribed health interventions with the rise of social media and predatory websites, such as Fluoride Action Network, that have disseminated claims about the efficacy of CWF unsupported by evidence-based science. This presentation provides the most recent scientific perspectives on this debate, which still collectively advocate for CWF.
Keywords: CWF, fluoride, neurotoxicity, dental health
Lindi Coyle 4:30 - 5:00 pm (M.Sc. AG)
The concept and controversy of Clean Coal: A Scientific Review
This presentation will critically examine the role of clean coal science and technology in the development and implementation of global energy systems strategies. Clean coal technologies (CCTs), such as carbon capture and storage (CCS), are designed to mitigate the environmental impacts of coal combustion by significantly reducing pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Supporters claim that these technologies can enhance the viability of coal as a transition fuel in the shift towards a low-carbon economy, citing the potential to reduce pollutants, including carbon dioxide (CO2), while maintaining energy security by using this abundant fossil fuel resource. Critics of clean coal technology are skeptical about its effectiveness and sustainability. Research suggests that the high costs of CCS infrastructure, combined with concerns about the long-term stability of carbon storage and, importantly, the lifecycle environmental impacts associated with coal extraction and combustion, remain significant challenges. The term "clean coal" is highly controversial and considered potentially misleading, as it underrepresents the broader environmental and climate consequences of ongoing coal use.
This presentation will review operational challenges, economic factors, and environmental impacts of clean coal technologies. The exploration of diverse perspectives in the clean coal debate will provide insight into its role in energy solutions and climate action. This ongoing debate has highlighted the importance of energy source diversification and addressing the environmental concerns associated with continued worldwide reliance on coal.