Olivia Mitchell
Question:603 Ms O. Mitchell asked the Minister for Health and Children if he will arrange for a random testing programme of fluoride levels in the Irish population including children. [11853/04]
View answerTuesday, 27 April 2004
Questions (545)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, I established the forum on fluoridation to review the fluoridation of public piped water supplies in Ireland. The forum's report was launched on 10 September 2002 and its main conclusion was that the fluoridation of public piped water supplies should continue as a public health measure. 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 1 part per million, human health is not adversely affected, dental 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 the inappropriate use of fluoride toothpaste at a young age. There is evidence that the prevalence of dental fluorosis is increasing in Ireland.
In all, the report of the fluoridation forum made 33 recommendations covering a broad range of topics such as research, public awareness, and policy and technical aspects of fluoridation. The establishment of the expert body recommended by the forum is now well under way. The body will be known as the Irish expert body on fluorides and health. It will be chaired by Dr. Seamus O'Hickey, former chief dental officer with my Department. Dr. O'Hickey's mix of scientific knowledge, awareness of fluoridation issues and experience of administrative issues leaves him well placed to chair the body. I understand that the inaugural meeting of the expert body is on 29 of April 2004.
The terms of reference of the expert body are to oversee the implementation of the recommendations of the forum on fluoridation; to advise the Minister and evaluate ongoing research — including new emerging issues — on all aspects of fluoride and its delivery methods as an established health technology and as required and to report to the Minister on matters of concern at his or her request or on own initiative. The expert body is to have broad representation, including from the areas of dentistry, public health medicine, toxicology, engineering, management, environment and the public as identified within the forum on fluoridation report. A research project on fluoride delivery systems, which includes an investigation into fluoride intake in the Irish population, is currently being undertaken at the Oral Health Services Research Centre, OHSRC, in University College Cork. As part of this project, the OHSRC is developing methods to be used when measuring fluoride ingestion in the population. One of the areas of research being pursued is the development of standardised methods for measuring fluoride content of samples of saliva, urine, serum, fingernail clippings and mineralised tissues. These studies are being undertaken in close collaboration with researchers in Europe and the USA to ensure that the methods being used conform to international standards. The results of this research and the commencement of any further research in the future — such as a random testing programme of fluoride levels in the Irish population including children — will be a matter for consideration by the Irish expert body on fluorides and health.