Australia - Fluoride booklet arrives with Christmas mail

FLUORIDATED water for Geelong is safe, healthy and inevitable a recent letter from the state's health department says.The Department of Human Services said it was beneficial for Geelong water users to join more than 75 per cent of Victoria with fluoridated water.Victoria's chief health officer Dr John Carnie sent letters and a handbook to residents during Christmas as part of the State Government's long-term water plans.Dr Carnie said local and statewide health organisations backed fluoride's introduction, including a study last month from the National Health and Research Council.
``This review confirmed that fluoridation of drinking water remains the most effective and socially equal way of providing all community members with the benefits of fluoride,'' he said.``In Victoria, children living in fluoridated areas experience considerably less tooth decay than those in non-fluoridated areas.''
The booklet, sent by Barwon Water on behalf of the department, moved to assure residents that fluoride would not change Geelong water's taste or smell.
Dr Carnie said Geelong's lack of fluoridation came up during the mooted connection of the region's water supplies with Melbourne's fluoridated pipelines.
But the Barwon Association for Freedom from Fluoridation group has slammed the letter as spin, pledging ``rolling protests'' early next year.
Yesterday, anti-fluoride campaigner Peter Linaker branded Dr Carnie's letter as misleading, labelling the additive ``poison''. ``You are told it is `safe'; it is not and you have no rights,'' he said.
Local organisations backing the fluoride plan include Barwon Health, Bellarine Community Health, Committee for Geelong, General Practitioners' Association of Geelong and Deakin University's health and medicine faculties.
For fluoride information visit www.health.vic.gov.au/environment/water/fluoridation.htm or phone 1800 651 723.