Written question asked by Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Warner (Labour) on Thursday, 2 February 2006.
Health: Fluoridated Water
- Question
- Whether, in the light of (a) the finding of the National Diet and Nutrition Study 2003 that a subset of the population may be consuming more fluoride than the maximum officially recommended figure; and (b) the new requirement under the Water Act 2003 that strategic health authorities implementing new fluoridation schemes should monitor the health of populations receiving fluoridated water and publish their findings, these same requirements will apply to strategic health authorities where there are existing fluoridation schemes; and what arrangements will be made to identify over-consumers of fluoride and to advise them accordingly.
- Answer
-
The National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) report published in 2003 included a study of 24-hour urinary excretion of fluoride in a sample of adults aged 19 to 64 in Great Britain between July 2000 and June 2001. The report noted:"““Safe intakes of fluoride for adults are 0.05mg/kg/day. Overall, 1 per cent. of men and 3 per cent. of women had a urinary fluoride excretion per 24 hours that suggest intakes of fluoride above the safe level. This proportion ranged from none of those aged 19 to 24 years to 2 per cent. of men and 6 per cent. of women aged 50 to 64 years.””"In this age group the relevant concern is that excessive intake of fluoride over many years may lead to clinical skeletal fluorosis. This condition is associated with a long-term fluoride intake several times higher than the ““safe intake for fluoride”” cited in the NDNS report. Furthermore, urinary fluoride excretion over 24 hours is largely determined by fluoride intake in the previous few days; therefore, the range of recent daily fluoride intakes estimated by the authors of the report may be wider than the range of long-term average daily fluoride intakes in the population.The report’s findings do not imply that fluoride intakes in adults in Great Britain will lead to clinical skeletal fluorosis. The Committee on Toxicity of Chemicals in Food, Consumer Products and the Environment concluded in September 2003 that,"““based on the current information available and the dietary intakes estimated from the 1997 Total Diet Study, no adverse effects other than mild to moderate dental fluorosis would be expected to be associated with fluoride intake from food, either in adults or in children, at the intake levels in the UK””. (COT Statement 2003/03)"Thus, the results of both recent surveys are consistent with the absence of reports of clinical skeletal fluorosis attributable to fluoride intakes in Great Britain.The requirement in Section 90(a)1 of the Water Industry Act 1991 (introduced by Section 58 of the Water Act 2003) is for strategic health authorities (SHAs) to monitor the health of populations receiving fluoridated water and applies to SHAs with existing fluoridation schemes. In producing guidance on how SHAs should implement this requirement, we will consider how intakes of fluoride should be monitored.
Secondary information
- Type
- Written question
- Reference
- 3558; 678 c68-9WA
- Session
- 2005-06
- Related items
- Subjects
- Consumption Health Health hazards Health authorities Drinking water Monitoring Fluoride
- Legislation
- Water Act 2003
- Contains statistics
- Yes
- Link
- View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk
Librarians' tools
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- 2013-12-06 20:41:13 +0000
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