John Gormley
Question:647 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of uranium present in hydrofluosilicic acid, the agent used to facilitate fluoridation of drinking water. [1665/01]
Written Answers. - Water Quality.
I understand from the Eastern Regional Health Authority that as the level of uranium present in hydrofluosilicic acid is not a parameter included in current quality guidelines nor is it included in draft European standards for hydrofluosilicic acid, data on the level of uranium in the product is not routinely available. However, surveillance of environmental radioactivity carried out by the Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland has found that all drinking water supplies investigated on a national basis were in compliance with WHO guidelines.
John Gormley
Question:648 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the level of nickel present in hydrofluosilicic acid, the agent used to facilitate fluoridation of drinking water. [1666/01]
I understand from the Eastern Regional Health Authority that the nickel content of hydrofluosilicic acid is two milligrams per kilogram of the product, the suggested limit in draft European Guidelines being 400 milligrams per kilogram.
Tests carried out on a number of occasions on the fluoridated water supply during the year 2000 showed that in each case the level of nickel was below the detection limit of 6 micrograms per litre, the maximum admissible concentration for nickel in water being 50 micrograms per litre.
John Gormley
Question:649 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children the name of the independent laboratory contracted to carry out chemical analysis of the hydrofluosilicic acid on behalf of the Eastern Health Board. [1667/01]
Chemical analyses of hydrofluosilicic acid are carried out by the public analyst and by Enterprise Ireland on behalf of the regional materials management of the Eastern Health Shared Services which acts on behalf all health boards in relation to the procurement of this product.
John Gormley
Question:650 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will supply a copy of the recent analysis of background levels of naturally occurring fluoride in Ireland prior to dosing at water treatment plants. [1668/01]
I have been advised that analysis of background levels of naturally occurring fluoride takes place at a local level in individual water treatment plants. This information is not calculated at a national level.
John Gormley
Question:651 Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children if water treatment plants make allowances for fluctuating levels of naturally occurring fluoride. [1669/01]
I am advised that it is standard operating procedure at water fluoridation plants to make allowance for the presence of naturally occurring fluoride.