Daily Echo - Letter

Let's talk fair about issue of fluoridation
ALTHOUGH I live outside the proposed fluoridation area, I do have concerns about fair play. It seems that the majority of correspondents who write about fluoridation have become obsessed with rumours and conspiracy theories, and should think more carefully about the following:
1) Use of the term mass medication is not justified from my dictionary definition of medicine, since fluoridation is not intended to cure, but only help prevent dental disease. It is of course an effective rabble rousing term. Logically, these opponents of fluoridation should also oppose chlorine-based products added to prevent admittedly more serious disease. Is this what they want?
2) After fluoridation, the water will still be 99.9999 per cent free of fluoride, instead of 99.99998 per cent. There are many salts causing temporary and permanent
hardness that are several hundred times this level - so much for the 'pure' water that some idealists believe we have at present, and are occasionally asked to boil before drinking.
3) There is intense focus on the
possible side effects of fluoridation, and a blind eye turned to the basic proven benefits.
4) The toxic nature of hexafluorosilicic acid is trumpeted, but so is chlorine (a first world war poison gas) and common salt for that matter. It's all in the dilution.
5) The SHA were unanimous in approving fluoridation after careful expert examination. How many of these opponents have even got A-level chemistry?
6) They have fallen for the popular conspiracy theory syndrome, which has created the 'big brother' SHA buying poison from evil manufacturers who can't dispose of it legally, and adding it to our pure water supply.
Shades of Batman and the Penguin! In fact, most hexafluorosilicic acid is used in the manufacture of aluminium.
7) It would be more fitting of the Echo to rename their 'Great Fluoride Debate' the Great Anti-Fluoride campaign.
Every letter and topic arising with a negative slant on fluoridation is given headline status. Even the entirely reasonable proposal to monitor the effect on dental health led to the spin headline that residents were being used as guinea pigs.
8) The use of general anaesthetic on children to remove teeth can result in fatalities, but nobody has yet claimed that fluoridation can kill anybody. Give them time.
Mr A K Roberts