asked the Minister for Health whether his Department have considered the submissions by Mr. G.L. Waldbott, published this year by the American Medical Association, that manifestations of fluoride intoxication from drinking water include pain and stiffness in the joints, especially in the lower spine, paralysis, auditory disturbances, convulsions, mental deterioration, cardiac damage, inhibition of thoracic movement, spastic constipation and pain, constipation alternating with diarrhoea, colitis, stomatitis, dermatitis and arthritic changes; and, if so, if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Manifestations of Fluoride Intoxication.
4.
Mr. Ryan
According to the latest statistics, over 37 million Americans drink fluoridated water. I refuse to believe that, due to that fact, they suffer from any or all of the long catalogue of disabling conditions cited in the question.
Furthermore if the Deputy's question is intended to imply that the American Medical Association accepts Dr. Waldbott's contentions, this would be contrary to the facts. The American Medical Association has declared itself in favour of fluoridation of public water supplies in the interests of dental health. The fact that the Association published, in the February, 1961 issue of the "Archives of Environmental Health", his comments, to which the Deputy is apparently referring, on a symposium previously reported in that journal, is not proof that the Association attaches importance to his views. Some time previously, Dr. Waldbott attended a meeting of the Association's Councils on Drugs, Foods and Nutrition when they were studying possible ill-effects of fluoridated water. These Councils reported that his evidence failed to demonstrate enough consistency to justify impartial acceptance as showing a symptom complex due to fluoridated water.
Dr. Waldbott's objections to fluoridation were also considered by the New Zealand Commission of Inquiry on Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies which reported in favour of fluoridation in 1957. The Commission commented "We are satisfied that there is no causal relationship between any of the signs and symptoms mentioned by Dr. Waldbott and the ingestion of water containing one part per million of fluoride and food cooked in this water".
Last year, Doctor Waldbott gave evidence in person before the Ontario Committee of Inquiry into the Fluoridation of Municipal Water Supplies. This Committee's recent report which also recommended the fluoridation of public piped water supplies, said: "Although Dr. Waldbott proved to be an interesting and indeed a revealing witness, much of the evidence which he submitted both in his brief and in his subsequent statements, cannot be admitted as scientific or as acceptable clinical evidence...we find his evidence unconvincing and have come to the conclusion that the many signs and symptoms attributed by him to fluorides are not related to the ingestion of fluoride at about one part per million in drinking water or food."
It can be seen from this that Dr. Waldbott's objections to fluoridated water have been considered by at least three reputable expert bodies, none of which was satisfied regarding the validity of his criticisms. I am satisfied that his recent comments do not weaken the findings of various authoritative bodies who have concluded, after careful examination of the question, that the ingestion of fluoridated water containing one part per million of fluorine is quite safe.