Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent)

There are many implications for public health in the fluoridation of public drinking water. Far from protecting public health, it has been claimed that the fluoridation of public drinking water is damaging the health of children.

There is evidence that there is an epidemic of dental fluorosis. This was presented to Members last week by Dr. Don McCauley, who is chairman of a group of 100 dentists who oppose fluoridation. He indicated that during his training he was not made aware of fluorosis. A large number of European countries has either ceased to use fluoridation or never used it. Admittedly, in the late 1950s and 1960s, when fluoridation was introduced, the objective was to protect people's teeth. However, oral hygiene is more prevalent since then and it is now time to question the use of fluoridation.

It should also be a concern that dental fluorosis increased seven fold between 1984 and 2002, which is a short time. It is becoming a serious problem and it must be examined in the context of the fluoridation of public water supplies. The other concern is that it is a problem for 40% of 15 year olds according to an oral health services centre in University College Cork. There is also scientific evidence that fluoridation causes bone fractures in children.

The signs of fluorosis are white spots and lines in the teeth. It is caused by swallowing uncontrolled amounts of water. If somebody drinks three to four pints of fluoridated water per day, they are ingesting a high dose. There is no control on the amount of water people drink. That is one of the major difficulties. Fluorosis is an irreversible condition and is the result of previous chronic fluoride poisoning.

The other concern is bottle fed infants. They are particularly at risk because of their small size. They are consuming unsafe levels of fluoride in their formula milk, which is made up by using tap water. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has produced some startling findings on babies and bottle feeding. In its risk assessment, it said the precautionary principle should apply. It recommended that the formula should not be constituted with fluoridated tap water. Telling mothers they should buy water for the baby milk formula is not an option. The chances are that they will continue to use tap water believing it to be safe.

The authority also found that bottle fed infants were ingesting unsafe levels of fluoride, thus increasing the risk of moderate dental fluorosis. Regrettably, however, the forum on fluoridation rejected the Food Safety Authority of Ireland's findings on technical grounds. It asked the FSAI to change its conclusions. That is unreal. The FSAI then absolved itself of all responsibility by stating that all babies should be breast fed. This is a way of evading the problem. The issue was left hanging. The research was conducted in Cork and fluoridation was found to be unsafe but there was no follow through. People are, therefore, being left at risk.

The forum recommended reducing the level of fluoride in drinking water by a quarter but nothing has been done. There is now talk of reducing the level of fluoride from 0.8 parts per million to 0.6 parts per million. However, the forum website states that there is no benefit from using less than 0.8 parts per million. Why bother reducing it? In a way, the forum is acknowledging that there are difficulties with fluoridation.

The Government should make a brave decision and do what many other European countries have done, that is, remove fluoride from the water supply. A compensation time bomb is being created. Court cases have been taken in recent weeks. Fluoridation is banned in Northern Ireland and dental fluorosis is three times worse in the Republic than in Northern Ireland.

This is a serious problem which must be addressed.

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