A chara, - At the March City Council meeting a motion was agreed in my name calling for the removal of fluoride from drinking water in the light of scientific evidence that the health risks associated with fluoride may well outweigh any benefit from reduction in dental caries. The council also requested the Taoiseach to set up an expert technical group to review the medical, dental and environmental effects of fluoridation of water.
In this debate, a false cause-and-effect relationship is postulated, namely that the introduction of fluoride in public water supply has reduced dental caries. Dental caries has also reduced in countries such as Germany, Holland, Denmark, Austria, Belgium, Sweden, Switzerland and France, which do not fluoridate the public water supply, due to the effects of better diet and better dental hygiene generally.
Fluoride is a toxic substance, which was used as a rat poison in the past and it accumulates in the body.
Ireland has one of the highest levels of water fluoridation in the world and is one of the few to provide for a statutory obligation under the Health (Fluoridation of Water Supplies) Act 1960. It is high time this legislation was scientifically reviewed in the light of best practice and potential public health risks. - Is mise,
Cllr Ruairi McGinley, Members Room, City Hall, Dublin 2.