Gerry Reynolds
Question:143 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Health and Children the reason his Department did not act on current research and failed to comply with the 1960 legislation regarding an issue (details supplied). [10762/02]
Written Answers. - Water Quality.
The safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation as a public health measure has been evaluated frequently by the World Health Organisation and other reputable authorities, such as the Health Research Council of the United States, and concerns about adverse health effects have not been substantiated.
In October 1999, The Faculty of Public Health Medicine of The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland issued a report which endorsed the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation. In October 2000, the University of York published an independent assessment of the safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation. The findings were similar to previous reports. Based on the most reliable scientific evidence available, water fluoridation was effective in reducing dental decay and was not associated with adverse health effects. The University of York's assessment did indicate that there has been an increase in dental fluorosis in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas, with the increase being more pronounced in fluoridated areas.
In 1991, the Oral Health Services Research Centre at University College Cork carried out a survey of adult dental health. This survey found no significant difference in general health status between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas. A further study of adult dental health is being undertaken this year and a component of this is an examination of general health. I have requested the researchers to report on the general health status of people living in fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas.
Furthermore, I established a forum on fluoridation in May 2000. The forum is comprised largely of persons with expert knowledge spanning the areas of public health, dental health, food safety, environmental protection, ethics, water quality, health promotion and representatives from the consumer and environmental areas. The forum held its first meeting in September 2000.
The terms of reference of the forum are as follows: to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies and the programme of research being undertaken on behalf of health boards in the area; to report to the Minister. The forum invited the public to forward their views on the issues under consideration and received in excess of 1,000 submissions, each of which has been examined individually.
I expect the forum on fluoridation to deal comprehensively with health issues.