John Gormley

The Green Party today said that it would stop the fluoridation of Irish water supplies if elected to Government. Health spokesperson John Gormley TD said that water fluoridation had reached its sell-by date and that the latest international research meant that fluoridation was no longer tenable.

Speaking at a press conference in Dublin, Deputy Gormley said: “The latest advice from the American Dental Association tells parents to avoid using fluoridated water when bottle feeding babies because of the dangers of fluorosis - the staining and pitting of teeth which can result from overexposure to fluoride. This advice should be heeded. The balance of international evidence proves that water fluoridation should be stopped immediately.

“There has been a huge increase in fluorosis in Ireland in the last decade. And as it is wholly impractical for mothers to source non-fluoridated water, it is prudent to stop water fluoridation immediately. There have been no increases in incidences of tooth decay in countries that stopped fluoridating their water supplies. We are satisfied that such a move in Ireland would not lead to increased dental caries. In fact, countries throughout Europe which do not fluoridate have better dental health than Ireland. It is now proven that fluoride does not need to be ingested to prevent dental caries, as had been previously thought. This means that fluoridated toothpaste is more that adequate to deal with dental decay.

Green Party candidate for Dublin Central Patricia McKenna added: “Sources of fluoride have increased dramatically since Ireland’s water was first fluoridated, yet the Department of Health has failed to carry out a single study - despite repeated promises - on total fluoride intake. American studies have shown increases of bone cancer amongst boys living in fluoridated areas. People should have a choice on what food and medication they consume. That choice was removed over 40 years ago in this country. The Green party simply wants to give back choice to the people by removing fluoride from our water supplies. This type of imposed mass medication of the public is a violation of their basic human right to free choice and bodily integrity and can no longer be justified in a democratic society. The fact that the policy is not followed up by regular and intensive independent studies of possible side-effects displays the state’s cavalier attitude to public health and the precautionary principle.”

Green Party candidate for Dublin South Central Cllr Tony McDermott
concluded: “We need a Chief Dental Officer with a brief to deal with the tooth decay problem by tackling the causes - junk food and the advertising of unhealthy food to our children.”

The Green Party’s position on fluoridation:

1. We note that dental health in Ireland has improved to the same degree in countries where there is no water fluoridation.
2. The Department of Health’s assessment of the overwhelming benefits of water fluoridation is not justified.
3. While positive aspects of fluoridation have been over-stated, the growing negative impact has not been properly recognised. The officially-reported sevenfold increase in fluorosis since 1984 is completely unacceptable and requires immediate action.
4. We are disappointed and alarmed that no general health studies, as provided for in S.6 of the 1960 Fluoridation Act have ever been carried out, particularly considering that four in ten 15 year olds are now affected by fluorosis.
5. We note that the recommendation of FSAI advising against the use of uoridated water for the bottle feeding of babies was changed subsequently following representations from a minority of members in 2001.
6. It is clear and, indeed, accepted by both the pro-and anti-fluoridation sides that the action of fluoride is topical and not systemic.
7. We believe on the basis of the international studies there would be no long-term increase in dental decay if fluoride were not added to Irish drinking water.
8. There is no evidence to suggest that Irish people are fluoride deficient, in fact, the evidence at hand suggests that we have too much fluoride in our systems.
9. It is now accepted by all sides that the sources of fluoride in our diet have increased dramatically since the introduction of water fluoridation.
10. There is sufficient scientific evidence in relation to health effects - albeit contradictory - to justify the application of the precautionary principle. We also note the latest advice from the American Dental Association which advises parents to choose non-fluoridated water for the bottle feeding babies.
11. We note that the fluoridating agent hydrofluorosilic acid has not been sanctioned by the Irish Medicines Board.

Recommendations:

• Fluoridated water should not be used to bottle feed babies.
• Given the impracticality of sourcing non-fluoridated water for the bottle feeding of babies, on the basis of the precautionary principle the practice of water fluoridation should cease immediately.
• The savings accruing from the policy change must be assessed in each HSE region. They should be ring-fenced before being re-allocated to educational programmes aimed at the socially deprived, in line with best practice in other European countries.
• Independent research into general health effects should be undertaken in order to assess the full impact of lifetime fluoride exposure in the population. Particular attention should be given to effects on infants and children of exposure to fluoride from all sources.
• The Minister for Health should prevent indiscriminate medication measures to treat the whole population via water or food because of the inability to control dosage and monitor individual reaction, evidenced by the forty year experience of water fluoridation.
• The Government should undertake a major educational programme to encourage healthy eating in order to tackle the twin problems of dental caries and obesity.
• More public dentists need to be employed and more regular check-ups encouraged.
• Parents should be given advice about teeth brushing and the use of fluoridated toothpaste. Along with imaginative education programmes on regular tooth brushing, existing nutritional programmes already underway should continue to target sugary diets of children from five to 15 years olds. Special emphasis should be laid on initiatives that target the socially disadvantaged where dental decay linked to poor diet is most prevalent.
• Fluoride toothpastes should carry warnings similar to those in the United States about the dangers of swallowing fluoride toothpaste.

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