NZ - Tribunal sought for water fluoridation
KATIE CHAPMAN
Anti-fluoride campaigners have called for a regional tribunal to question the practice in Wellington.
A contingent of submitters addressed the Greater Wellington Regional Council this morning during hearings on the council's draft annual plan, once again questioning the compulsory fluoridation of the region's drinking water.
The council supplies water which has been fluoridated to meet levels recommended by the Ministry of Health to improve dental health. The water goes to Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt and Porirua.
However, submitters at Greater Wellington today called on the council to reconsider the practice, saying there was increasing evidence the levels in water were not enough to make a significant difference on dental health, as it was only residual fluoride in saliva that made a difference to oral health, and that was at such a diluted level it became insignificant.
Instead, people were absorbing fluoride at a level that failed to account for factors such as age, weight or individual tolerance, dentist Stan Litras argued.
"The toxic level is easily exceeded by children aged less than eight."
Lynn Jordan said the matter should be considered by a tribunal that properly considered the different arguments.. ......
Anti-fluoride campaigners have called for a regional tribunal to question the practice in Wellington.
A contingent of submitters addressed the Greater Wellington Regional Council this morning during hearings on the council's draft annual plan, once again questioning the compulsory fluoridation of the region's drinking water.
The council supplies water which has been fluoridated to meet levels recommended by the Ministry of Health to improve dental health. The water goes to Wellington, Upper Hutt, Lower Hutt and Porirua.
However, submitters at Greater Wellington today called on the council to reconsider the practice, saying there was increasing evidence the levels in water were not enough to make a significant difference on dental health, as it was only residual fluoride in saliva that made a difference to oral health, and that was at such a diluted level it became insignificant.
Instead, people were absorbing fluoride at a level that failed to account for factors such as age, weight or individual tolerance, dentist Stan Litras argued.
"The toxic level is easily exceeded by children aged less than eight."
Lynn Jordan said the matter should be considered by a tribunal that properly considered the different arguments.. ......
posted by Bill at
9:52 AM
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