Written question asked by Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Darzi of Denham (Labour) on Monday, 1 October 2007.

Fluoridation

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:How they reconcile the statement by Baroness Royall of Blaisdon in her Written Answer on 12 July (WA 242) that dental fluorosis does not affect ““the extra resistance to dental decay that is provided by exposure to fluoride””, with the finding by the United States National Research Council (US NRC) that the evidence is ““mixed but generally supportive”” of a greater frequency of caries in those with severe enamel fluorosis, of which the US NRC in 2006 found infants and young children at risk.

Answer: The United States National Research Council was asked by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address any adverse health effects on fluoride at the high levels which occur naturally in some supplies in the United States of America. In particular the report looks at whether the EPA’s maximum permitted level of fluoride in drinking water of 4 milligrammes per litre should be adjusted. In the United Kingdom there is a legal requirement for fluoride levels in drinking water not to exceed 1.5 mg per litre and, in supplies which are artificially fluoridated, the target concentration is lower, at 1 mg per litre. Any research findings in relation to the current high levels of fluoride permitted in the USA are not directly applicable to the UK.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 5050; 694 c145WA
Session: 2006-07
Related items: Fluoridation
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Written questions
House of Lords; Fluoridation
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Written questions
House of Lords; Fluoridation
Wednesday, 21 November 2007
Written questions
House of Lords; Fluoridation
Thursday, 12 July 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Notes: Answer received between Monday 30 July and Friday 3 August 2007.
Subjects: Children Health hazards Drinking water Research Fluoride Dental health
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk