Alberta Environment has rejected the objections by four doctors to Calgary’s bid to stop fluoridation.

The regulatory decision clears the way for the city to follow council’s wishes and cease adding fluoride to the water supply by early May.

After unsuccessfully trying to persuade aldermen that fluoridation was a proven cavity-fighter, Alberta Health Services, two dentists a University of Calgary family-medicine professor each urged the environment ministry to consider the public-health consequences of the change to the city’s water system.

The ministry effectively chose not to judge on a health issue or second-guess the wisdom of council’s 10-3 vote, deciding that none of the objectors were "directly affected" by removing the chemical.

"After reviewing the statements of concern, we found that none demonstrated a specific relationship to the proposed changes," Alberta Environment spokeswoman Carrie Sancartier.