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Fluoridation

Answer

A number of studies regarding water fluoridation and bone cancer have been published. The weight of the scientific evidence, as assessed by independent committees of experts, comprehensive systematic reviews, and review of the findings of individual studies, does not currently support any association between water fluoridated at levels optimal for oral health and the risk for cancer, including bone cancer, in children.We are aware that an observed association between exposure to fluoride in drinking water and the incidence (new cases) of osteosarcoma in young males has recently been reported in a paper in the United States (Age-specific fluoride exposure in drinking water and Osteosarcom (United States) Bassin et al., Cancer causes control (2006) 17: 421–428). No apparent association was observed in females. The author has described this research as an exploratory analysis and has acknowledged that further research is required to confirm or refute the observed association.In 2000, the Government commissioned a systematic review of public water fluoridation from the University of York. In this study, no clear association between osteosarcoma and fluoridation was found. In 2002, the Medical Research Council (MRC), commissioned by the Government to consider further research requirements on water fluoridation, agreed with the York findings that overall, the evidence does not suggest that artificially fluoridated water increases the risk of cancer. The Department will keep any further publications from the recent United States study under review and is committed to a continuing programme of research in line with the MRCs recommendations.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

65196; 445 c1695W;445 c1695W

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Drinking water Fluoride

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk