Vol. 561 No. 1
98 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Health and Children if the research project which included investigation into the fluoride intake of the population has been concluded; if its findings informed the recommendations of the Forum on Fluoridation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3318/03]
347 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if the research project which included investigation into the fluoride intake of the Irish population has been concluded; if the findings informed the recommendations of the Forum on Fluoridation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3348/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 98 and 347 together.
A research project on fluoride delivery sys tems, which includes an investigation into fluoride intake in the population, is currently being undertaken at the oral health services research centre in University College, Cork. As part of this project, the fluoride laboratory in UCC is determining the fluoride content of foods, drinks and toothpaste.
Methods are also being developed for measuring the total dietary fluoride intake of two to three year old children and baseline information on current levels of fluoride absorption in Irish children is being measured using fingernail clippings. These studies are being undertaken in close collaboration with researchers in Europe and the United States in order to make sure that the methods being used conform to international standards.
The director of the project at the oral health services research centre in University College Cork has informed me that the expected date of completion for this project is mid-2003. Consequently, as the Forum on Fluoridation has already reported, the final outcomes of this project would not have been available to the forum.
The use of fluoride technology is known to manifest a positive oral health outcome. Local and national surveys and studies conducted since the introduction of fluoridation here attest to the reduced dental decay levels of children and teenagers in fluoridated areas compared to those residing in non-fluoridated areas. The safety and effectiveness of water fluoridation has been endorsed by a number of international and reputable bodies, such as the World Health Organisation, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States Public Health Service and the United States Surgeon General.
Despite these endorsements, I decided to establish the Forum on Fluoridation to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The forum's report was recently launched and its main conclusion was that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure, subject to the recommendations of the forum. The forum also concluded that water fluoridation has been very effective in improving the oral health of the Irish population, especially of children, but also of adults and the elderly. The best available and most reliable scientific evidence indicates that at the maximum permitted level of fluoride in drinking water at one part per million, human health is not adversely affected.
Additional informationDental fluorosis, a form of discoloration of the tooth enamel, is a well-recognised condition and an indicator of overall fluoride absorption, whether from natural sources, fluoridated water or from the inappropriate use of fluoride toothpaste at a young age. There is evidence that the prevalence of dental fluorosis is increasing in Ireland.
The forum consisted of people with expert knowledge spanning the areas of public health, biochemistry, dental health, bone health, food safety, environmental protection, ethics, water quality, health promotion and representatives from the consumer and environmental areas. This diversity of professional backgrounds and representation was reflected in the comprehensive way the forum conducted its work and research.
The forum's report emerged from 14 plenary meetings, several meetings of sub-groups and oral presentations of material from both proponents and opponents of fluoridation. The forum invited the public to forward their views and examined more than 1,000 submissions. The forum took a participatory and evidence-based approach striving to ensure balance between participants from both sides of the debate on water fluoridation.
The report of the fluoridation forum made 33 recommendations covering a broad range of topics such as research, public awareness, policy and technical aspects of fluoridation. Following publication of the report, I have asked my Department to establish an expert body, as recommended by the forum. This expert body will oversee the implementation of the wide-ranging recommendations of the forum and advise me on all aspects of fluoride. In particular, ongoing research related to fluoride will continue to be evaluated by the expert body and expanded to deal with new emerging issues.
I thank the Minister for his response. He referred to the maximum permitted levels of fluoride which are safe but we are ingesting it and it acts systemically. Why would we assume that fluoride simply finds its way into our teeth and does not have any other health impact? That aspect was not measured in the fluoride report which devoted only eight or nine pages to it from a total of almost 300. A crucial point in the report's section on the health impact was that the amount of exposure to fluoride dictated the level of fluorosis. The report only dealt with dental fluorosis and ignored the impact on other aspects of health. Is the Minister aware, for instance, that young girls are drinking large quantities of water because they think it is good for them? Is the Minister happy to allow each local authority to use fluoridation? Is he happy that fluoridated water in measured doses is healthy for our population?
The Deputy should resume her seat.
If young people are drinking large amounts of water, that is great.
They are being mass medicated.
Please allow the Minister to continue without interruption.
It is far better that they should drink glasses of water—
What about babies?
—than the other concoctions and cocktails that, unfortunately, too many young people drink today and thereby do themselves incredible harm. I wish people would get as excited about under-age drinking activities as they do about fluoride.
This concerns the involuntary ingestion of fluoride in water.
Order please. Deputy Mitchell has not been called by the Chair.
The forum on fluoridation looked at all health aspects of fluoridation. About 1,000 submissions were made to the forum, most of which related to non-fluorosis issues, including allegations concerning bone disease and cancer.
There were about eight pages.
They were irrefutably knocked down by the forum which came to the conclusion that there were no adverse health effects from the maximum permitted level of one part per million of fluoride in drinking water. Because of fluorosis however, the forum suggested the level should go down to 0.6 parts per million. All the health aspects were examined and all the international bodies were consulted.
However, fluorosis is poisoning.
From the studies that have been done so far, does the Minister not accept that we are not fluoride deficient? The forum did not establish anything in that line. In fact, it did not answer the critique of Dr. Harvey Limebach from Canada who said that on the basis of evidence he had accumulated, bottle-fed babies should not be fed with fluoridated water. Is it not clear, Minister, that the forum was unable to answer Dr. Limebach's arguments?
No, I would not accept that. The forum dealt comprehensively with the issues that were put before it.
It did not.
It should be remembered that the forum comprised a cross-section of disciplines, including people with specific expertise in different areas of science and food in particular. They sought advice and received presentations from both sides of the debate. I readily acknowledge that people have very strong views.
It was a whitewash.
It was not a whitewash. One of the regrets I had was that organisations which we knew were against fluoride and which we asked to come on the forum, refused to take part.
They do.
That is not good enough. In a democracy, even if we have different views, we should all be prepared to sit around the table to articulate those views and argue the toss. Unfortunately, the easiest thing in the world is to detach and just maintain one's own position.
We will have our day.
I would ask the Minister to deal with Question No. 99.
