Ireland - Fluoridation should continue say experts
Fluoridation should continue says Expert Body
The Irish Expert Body on Fluoride and Health has told the Oireachtas Health Committee that water fluoridation is effective, safe, the only known side effect is fluorosis and it has recommended that it continues.The Chairman of the Body, Dr Seamus O Hickey, said however the only caveat is that the body has accepted the recommendation of the Forum on Fluoridation to reduce the level of fluoride and therefore reduce the level of fluorosis.The Statutory Instrument to allow for the reduction of fluoride was introduced last week.
The Body was established on the recommendation of the Forum on Fluoridation in April 2004 and will implement the recommendations of the Forum.Since its establishment, the Body has been seeking to have a toxicologist on its Board, however a dispute between the Department of Health and toxicologists, meant toxicologists, as a matter of principle would not join.
The Body was in agreement with members of the Oireachtas Committee that the health messages provided on toothpaste should be made bigger.Members of the Body are about to begin a consultative process with industry on the messages to be provided, for example that small children should not use fluoride toothpaste and only a pea sized amount for children should be used.
According to the Body, dental decay rates in the Republic are likely to increase, at least in line with those of Northern Ireland, without the benefit of water fluoridation.
In addition it continues to advise that infant formula should be reconstituted with boiled tap water and they consider that fluoride in Irish tap water in the concentrations known “poses no medical problems for infants or the population in general”.
Meanwhile, VOICE (Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment) spokesperson, Mr Robert Pocock has accused the Oireachtas Committee of failing parents of bottle-fed babies and “thousands of other people at risk from fluoride in drinking water”. He also said that further research on the effects of fluoride are needed.
The Irish Expert Body on Fluoride and Health has told the Oireachtas Health Committee that water fluoridation is effective, safe, the only known side effect is fluorosis and it has recommended that it continues.The Chairman of the Body, Dr Seamus O Hickey, said however the only caveat is that the body has accepted the recommendation of the Forum on Fluoridation to reduce the level of fluoride and therefore reduce the level of fluorosis.The Statutory Instrument to allow for the reduction of fluoride was introduced last week.
The Body was established on the recommendation of the Forum on Fluoridation in April 2004 and will implement the recommendations of the Forum.Since its establishment, the Body has been seeking to have a toxicologist on its Board, however a dispute between the Department of Health and toxicologists, meant toxicologists, as a matter of principle would not join.
The Body was in agreement with members of the Oireachtas Committee that the health messages provided on toothpaste should be made bigger.Members of the Body are about to begin a consultative process with industry on the messages to be provided, for example that small children should not use fluoride toothpaste and only a pea sized amount for children should be used.
According to the Body, dental decay rates in the Republic are likely to increase, at least in line with those of Northern Ireland, without the benefit of water fluoridation.
In addition it continues to advise that infant formula should be reconstituted with boiled tap water and they consider that fluoride in Irish tap water in the concentrations known “poses no medical problems for infants or the population in general”.
Meanwhile, VOICE (Voice of Irish Concern for the Environment) spokesperson, Mr Robert Pocock has accused the Oireachtas Committee of failing parents of bottle-fed babies and “thousands of other people at risk from fluoride in drinking water”. He also said that further research on the effects of fluoride are needed.
posted by Bill at
10:06 AM
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