347 Community Water Fluoridation with Ken Perrott : Dentistry Uncensored with Howard Farran

Ken graduated with PHD in chemistry in 1970. He has worked as a research scientist ever since, mainly on soils and agricultural issues.

Watch on Dentaltown at http://bit.ly/DentistryUncensored347

His early research investigated the reaction of phosphate and fluoride with minerals and soils. Later work involved investigation of soil life and nutrient transfers. He also has done research on apatites and fluorosilicic acid, which are relevant to the controversy around community water fluoridation (CWF).

In 2013 he became active on online debates about CWF. His local city council had become influenced by anti-fluoridation campaigners and stopped fluoridation, despite public support from it as evidence by a previous referendum and council polling. After protests the council held another referendum, fluoridation received 70% voter support and CWF was restarted.

He writes a blog, Open Parachute, where he discusses scientific and related issues - particularly science denialism. Since 2013 many of his blog posts have been devoted to explaining the science behind CWF and debunking claims made by anti-fluoride campaigners.


Ken accuses Prof Paul Connett of taking money from Dr Mercola I suppose he thinks we funded Paul when he came over here to UK. We certainly didn't apart from an amount to cover some of the cost. He accuses Dr Mercola of being a snake oil salesman.He'll accuse me next of making money from this blog.

Paul is well into his seventies and to live out of a suitcase touring the world he is a hero to continue.


Ken argues that the fluoride adds little in the way of impurities I argue it should not be allowed to put any in considering 2% from tonnes of the stuff they put in each year.

The UK's Water (Fluoridation) Act 1985, since incorporated into the 1991 Water Industry Act, allows hexafluorosilicic acid (H2SiF6) and disodium hexafluorosilicate (Na2SiF6) to be used to increase the fluoride content of water. The published Code of Practice on Technical Aspects of Fluoridation of Water Supplies (Department of the Environment, 1987) gives specifications for these substances and states that 'the product. ..must not contain any mineral or organic substances capable of impairing the health of those drinking water correctly treated with the product'. For H2SiF6, limits are given for a number of possible impurities, including for iron, heavy metals, sulphate, phosphate, and chloride. The specification for Na2SiF6 powder requires a minimum of 98% m/m of the pure chemical, and gives maximum limits for impurities, including heavy metals (as lead) and iron. No other substances are allowed to be used in the fluoridation process, other than an anti-caking agent (the identity of which must be disclosed) in the case of Na2SiF6. Synthetic detergents are not permitted.