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Fluoride debate flares

[Posted: Wed 14/03/2007 www.irishhealth.com]

The debate over fluoridation of water has flared up, after the Green Party declared it would stop fluoridation if in power.

Green Party TD John Gormley said it would be 'prudent' to stop water fluoridation in Ireland immediately.

The Expert Body on Fluorides and Health, an official group, countered with a flat denial of the Green claims. "There is overwhelming scientific evidence to support the safety and efficacy of water fluoridation in Ireland," it said in a statement.

The expert Body said that all oral health surveys showed there had been a big improvement in dental health since fluoride was introduced into Irish water supplies in the mid-1960s.

John Gormley, Green Party spokesman on health

At his press conference, Mr Gormley made special reference to the use of fluoridated tap water in making up babies' bottles. He said the American Dental Association had told parents not to use such tap water because of the risk of fluorosis, staining and pitting of teeth attributed to fluoride. He claimed there has been a huge increase in fluorosis here in the past decade.

The Expert Body recommended strongly against using bottled water to make up baby formula, saying that many waters were unsuitable because of a high sodium content.

Dr Seamus O'Hickey, chairman of the Expert Body, said that fluorosis was only a cosmetic concern, and unlikely to be noticeable in Irish consumers. He noted that the World Health Organisation (WHO) has recently renewed a call for all governments to fluoridate water supplies.

"Statements which are being put in the public domain that are not founded on proper science could cause concern amongst consumers," his statement said.

The Green Party claims that the Department of Health's assessment of the benefits of fluoride is not justified. It says fluoride toothpaste is all that is needed to combat decay in this way.

The then Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin, established the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health in April 2004. It includes dentists, public health professionals, engineers, environmentalists, experts in toxicology and public health medicine and members of the public.

 

  Robert(bobpo)  Posted: 14/03/2007 18:53
The statments causing concern amongst consumers are not coming from John Gormley, who is only quoting the warnings by the American Dental Association not to use fluoridated tap water in infant formula. The statements 'not founded on proper science' are coming from Dr O'Hickey and others from the Irish Expert Body on Fluorides and Health. On the one hand these experts advise parents to breast-feed newborns but in the next breath* claim the best thing to do is to use tap water to make up formula. Since Irish tap water fluoridated at 1milligram/litre contains from two hundred to two hundred and fifty times more fluoride than breast milk (from 0.005 to 0.004mg/l F) -- ie it is virtually fluoride-free --- it is clear that the Expert Body's advice is certainly not founded on proper science. No wonder there have been calls for this taxpayer funded talk-shop to be abolished in place of proper scientific assessment of this discredited practice. * this advice was given by Dr Joe Mullen, another member of the Expert Body, on Morning Ireland on 14th March. Robert Pocock, VOICE
 
  Joe(joet61)  Posted: 14/03/2007 23:53
The Expert Body on Fluorides and Health -- effectively the Minister's advisers on fluoridation -- claims that "There is overwhelming scientific evidence to support the safety and efficacy of water fluoridation in Ireland." It is hard to believe that the Expert Body is not aware of the facts: There is NO high-quality evidence for the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation anywhere. That was the conclusion of the UK Government's York Review (2000), the most comprehensive review of the evidence. Nothing has happened since 2000 to alter that view. We can only conclude that the Expert Body is trying to mislead us. This impression is reinforced by its false claim that it includes "experts in toxicology". The Expert Body has been talking for three years about employing a toxicologist, but hasn't come up with one. That follows a pattern established by Micheal Martin's Fluoridation Forum (2000-2002). The Forum members talked at length about the need to consult a toxicologist (see the minutes www.fluoridationforum.ie). Somehow, the Forum -- despite the pressing need, despite the resources available to it, and despite taking an extra year to carry out its tasks -- failed to find a toxicologist, and its 300-page report resorted to repeating the basic facts detailed elsewhere. As it happens, one of the world's leading toxico-pathologists, Dr Vyvyan Howard, is now working in Ireland -- at the University of Ulster in Coleraine. Dr Howard has also taken a particular interest in the toxicology of fluoride. I'm sure he would be happy to talk to the Expert Body (if they would listen), but of course the members of the Expert Body wouldn't like what Dr Howard has to say. When is Mary Harney going to call the bluff of her "expert" advisers? As for the WHO, any organization that calls fluoride a "nutrient" (which the WHO does, time and time again) does not deserve to be taken seriously, no matter how big they are.
 
  Ba  Posted: 15/03/2007 13:40
Why will the government not endorse the removal of fluoride from our tap water? Because they fear litigation by the masses who suffer from dental fluorosis (mottling of teeth). Meanwhile we all suffer the consequences of their negligence - increasing rates of thyroid problems, osteoporosis, digestive disorders and most seriously the poisoning of our babies as a result of making up formula with tap water. When will people get the message and rise up? Fluoride is a heavy-duty toxin which damages health. The focus for dental health education should be on managing the real causes of dental caries - sweets, fizzy drinks etc. To compulsory medicate the population by using a substance as toxic to the human body as fluoride is, to my mind, criminal.
 
  EUES Ireland  Posted: 15/03/2007 14:25
Dr. O'Hickey and his colleague on the Expert Body, Dr. O’Mullane both constantly quote the WHO as being totally in favour of fluoridation. Ironic as Dr O’Mullane is one of the main contributors to that august body’s fluoridation programme! In effect, quoting themselves as supporting references. On such sand is the fluoride argument built. A comprehensive exposé of these people can be found at: http://www.newmediaexplorer.org/sepp/2005/04/12/who_ignores_science_questions_recommends_toxic_fluoride.htm
 
 
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