NZ - Onehunga at centre of fluoride debate

TOM CARNEGIE

A report has been requested by Auckland councillors to shed light on the city's water fluoridation practices. The Regional Strategy and Policy Committee requested the Watercare report at its monthly meeting on November 5.

Former councillor Richard Northey and Robyn Northey, a former dental nurse and elected member of Auckland District Health Board, gave a presentation supporting the fluoridation of the Onehunga water supply. This presentation was followed by Kane Titchener, the Auckland coordinator for Fluoride Free NZ, who spoke about lowering the amount of fluoride in Auckland's water supply.

Onehunga and Huia Village are the only Auckland metropolitan areas where fluoride is not added to drinking water. Onehunga's water has historically not been fluorodated as it comes from a local spring. Chlorine is added to the water as required by law."In Auckland there is up to a 40 per cent reduction in total dental decay among 5-year-olds in fluoridated areas like Mangere and Mt Roskill compared to their neighbours in Onehunga," Richard Northey says.

He says fluoridation is safe as research shows the only negative effect is fluorosis. "Some children develop a usually temporary mottling of teeth in their first eight years. "Particularly in areas with high natural fluoride levels in the water or if they like swallowing fluoridated toothpaste," he says.
Titchener refutes Northey's claims and says there is real evidence of harm. He says the residents of Onehunga made it clear they did not want fluoride though a 2001 referendum where 66 per cent opposed adding it to the water supply. Titchener also says Auckland Council should ask Watercare to reduce the amount of fluoride in the water as it not in alignment with optimal practice.

"The US Public Health service's new recommendation is for a single level of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per litre of water. "The Ministry of Health's concentration target for Auckland is 0.7 to 1.0 parts per million."

Titchener says a single level of 0.7ppm would be a good step towards having fluoride removed from drinking water altogether.

- Stuff