Mary Ann O'Brien (Independent) | Oireachtas source

If one has a glass of water it goes at 100 miles by our teeth and into our tummies. Fluoride is not intelligent; it does not have a label stating it must go straight to the teeth. It goes into our tummies. It is soluble. Within five minutes it is in every cell in one's body. I want Senator Barrett to listen to this because we are not only talking about teeth but every cell in the body. What about the rest of the skeleton? Everyone has stated dental fluorosis is a definite and we have found something on which we all agree. What about skeletal fluorosis? If teeth get dental fluorosis why cannot the rest of the skeleton get fluorosis? Skeletal fluorosis is a bone disease which in mild form can cause fractures. Golly gosh that is a cost to the nation for older people with hips, broken bones and brittle bones.

I was very glad to hear Senator White clarify the point on children aged under two years. To return to my speech, what about children aged under two who must drink bottled feeds? I believe it was Senator Burke, but perhaps it was Senator Gilroy, who stated one must follow the manufacturer's instructions when making up formula feeds. Having had five children, I cannot remember a manufacturer's feeding tube stating it should be mixed with boiled fluoridated water. Babies are not supposed to have fluoridated water. They cannot excrete fluoride efficiently. Adults can filter 50% but babies retain 90%. This is based on studies which have been conducted and are true. Babies weigh between 12 and 25 pounds and per body weight need three to four times more liquid per day than adults to stay alive because they do not have any teeth so they cannot eat. Their food comes from drink and bottles. They take in three or four times more liquid and fluoride than we do, which is a serious problem.

To come back to Senator Barrett, who may not have been here for my speech, I quoted from the National Research Council report from the United States. It is an arm of the US National Academy of Sciences. It conducted the largest piece of research ever conducted in the history of the human race since fluoridation has become apparent, when 12 scientists chosen for their balanced nature spent three years examining the pros and cons in 1,000 reports. The Senator can read my speech later because I have very little time left.

I did not know that fluoride is found in pharmaceuticals, steroids, anti-inflammatories, antimalarial drugs, anaesthetics, anti-fungal treatments and antibiotics which are given to children.

The pharmaceutical industry is with us on this as well.

Could the Minister of State, Deputy Nash, also ask the Minister of State, Deputy Kathleen Lynch, whether the expert group tested our water recently? Can we have a breakdown of exactly what is in the water? How many humans and how many counties have been tested regarding their levels of fluoride? I bet she will tell me they are never tested. How many foods have been tested? How many beers have been tested? How many Irish soups and ready meals? How much Irish cheese? How many Irish smoothies? They all contain fluoride because they all are made with fluoridated water. Earlier someone said one can make a baby's bottle with boiled water. Boiling does not make fluoride go away.