Written question asked by Norman Baker (Liberal Democrat) on Tuesday, 1 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 23 February 2005. It was answered by Melanie Johnson (Labour) on Wednesday, 23 February 2005 on behalf of the Department of Health.

Dept of Health

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the maximum safe daily intake of fluoride.

Answer: Norman Baker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of the maximum safe daily intake of fluoride. [214234] Miss Melanie Johnson: There are now known adverse effects on health at fluoride intakes below those causing clinical skeletal fluorosis. This condition appears to require fluoride intakes of at least 10 milligrams daily for at least 10 years. Skeletal fluorosis in the United Kingdom appears to be non-existent--with the exception of a reported case in 1966--see Webb-Peploe MM, Bradley WG (1966): "Endemic fluorosis with neurological complications in a Hampshire man"-- Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, Vol. 29, pp. 577-584.

Secondary information