From Joy Warren of ‘West Midlands Against Fluoridation

From Joy Warren of ‘West Midlands Against Fluoridation’, which she asked me to circulate, as it contains a very important point about water fluoridation ‘not being compatible with UK law.’    Sorry if this is a duplicate for some.   Best wishes, Ann.

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19^th June 2019

Dear Friends

WMAF finally ‘bit the bullet’ a couple of months back and retained a solicitor to examine the law permitting WF.   The solicitor’s conclusion is that WF is not compatible with UK law.

Here is the information you need to quote to anyone you talk to on the subject:

The Water Industry Act 1991, s.87 states that only two compounds of fluorine are permitted to be added to water in order to raise the level of fluoride to 1mg fluoride/litre when a water company is required to fluoridate its treated water.  These compounds are H₂SiF₆  and Na₂SiF₆

On page 7 of BSEN 12175:2013 at para. 4.3, two impurities present in the fluoridating acid, hexafluorosilicic acid, are listed: 

Phosphate pentoxide which is present as 0.75% max. 

and

Hydrofluoric acid described as free hydrogen fluoride as HF which is present as 1.5% max.

On page 19, Annex A,  para. A.2.3, we see that water companies add a typical dose of 6.3mg of hexafluorosilicic acid to achieve a final concentration of 1mg F/litre .

In the same Annex,  para. A.2.1, it is stated that hexafluorosilicic acid is used for the fluoridation of drinking water to increase the resistance of consumers to dental decay.  (The long arm of the MHRA has failed to see this claim even though the agency has been reasonably successful at preventing water companies admitting this medicinal purpose.)  This statement contradicts the misleading title of the BSEN: “Chemicals used for treatment of water intended for human consumption: hexafluorosilicic acid”. 

 Hydrofluoric acid (Hydrogen fluoride) is a compound of fluorine but since it is not listed in the WIA 1991, s.87, it is not permitted.  Therefore its presence is not compatible with the law, thus making it unsound to use hexafluorosilicic acid as the agent for adding fluoride to drinking water.  Note that I cannot say that it is illegal at this stage because we think that a judge’s ruling is required before we can state this. 

Hydrofluoric acid is an impurity in the fluoridating acid.  Impurities, when added to something, e.g. water, render that something impure.  If our drinking water is impure, it is not potable.  The DWI would appear to be failing in its duty of care.  (This argument can be strengthened because phosphate pentoxide is also an impurity.)

Hydrofluoric acid is listed as a reportable poison in the Deregulation Act 2015, Schedule 21, Part 4.  No maximum dose or concentration appears next to the entry.

Hydrofluoric acid and hexafluorosilicic acid are not permissible additives to food in EU Reg. 1170/2009, Annex III.  However, sodium fluoride and potassium fluoride are permitted because they are used for milk- and salt fluoridation respectively.

Hydrofluoric acid is not a chemical parameter.  Consequently, the DWI does not insist that it is analysed as it comes out of the point of compliance (the kitchen tap).  The main criterion for our purposes is that of HF being added to drinking water.  In fact it does not matter if the HF dissociates in the mains: it’s the act of adding it which is the important point.  However, even if HF dissociates in the mains, it is more likely to be present in an acidic environment and would reform de novo in the stomach.

HF is present in drinking water at the Water Treatment Works at a maximum concentration of 0.0945 mg fluoride/litre.  (1.5% of 6.3mg H₂SiF₆)  The concentration of HF as the water leaves the WTW depends on the background concentration of fluoride before hexafluorosilicic acid is added.  Let’s assume, however, that if there is very little fluoride in the treated water prior to release to the mains, there would be approximately 19 mg HF and potential HF in your bath water should you fill the bath with 200 litres of hot water. (0.0945 x 200 = 18.9mg HF).  

HF is absorbable through the skin.  Dr Viktor Gorlitzer von Mundy in Austria in the 1930s established that a dilute solution of HF added to bath water at blood heat cured his patients who had hyperthyroidism.  Perhaps this is the reason why there is so much hypothyroidism in fluoridated regions of England since continual exposure to HF will tip the body over into a low thyroid condition, particularly in the absence of iodide.

West Midlands Against Fluoridation has spent £792 for solicitor’s advice and our funds are almost wiped out.  I am appealing to you all to make a donation to WMAF to replenish our funds so that at least we can continue to travel to the threatened North East where 6 local authorities are exploring WF at the prompting of Public Health England.  It’s imperative that the North East does not become 100% fluoridated because Sheffield is also exploring WF and after that it will be the turn of Greater Manchester.  Up until now, we have successfully challenged attempts by Local Authorities to go out to Public Consultation and this strategy has worked, and long may it do so, but the North East is proving a hard nut to crack.

If we are to be successful, then we all need to pull together.  WMAF  (and UKFFFA) hope that you are willing to contribute.

Here are the details for making a donation to WMAF:

There is a donation button on the home page of the West Midlands Against Fluoridation website. www.wmaf.org.uk/landing.php  and Enter site. Scroll down to the area where the stork and frog cartoon appears and click on the Donation button.

Alternatively, please send a cheque payable to West Midlands Against Fluoridation to:

 Joy Warren

Coordinator, West Midlands Against Fluoridation

154 Stonebury Avenue

Eastern Green

Coventry

CV5 7NX

As an alternative to writing a cheque and paying postage, it is fine to do a BACS transfer using the following bank account details

Bank Account is in the name of West Midlands Against Fluoridation WMAF

Account No: 65461943

Sort Code: 089299

Bank: Cooperative Bank

Thanks to all of you in anticipation.

Joy

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Joy Warren, BSc. (Hons) Environmental Science; Certificate in Health and Nutrition

Joint Coordinator, UK Freedom From Fluoride Alliance

Coordinator, West Midlands Against Fluoridation

www.ukfffa.org.uk;  www.wmaf.org.uk

Tel: 02476 467562          Mob: 07741482823