Written question asked by Earl Baldwin of Bewdley (Crossbench), in the House of Lords. It was answered by Lord Darzi of Denham (Labour) on Wednesday, 21 November 2007.

Fluoridation

Question: asked Her Majesty's Government:Further to the Written Answer by Lord Darzi of Denham on 1 October (WA 145) and in the light of the response to the report of the United States National Research Council in March 2006 on the potential risks of water fluoridation at 4 parts per million (ppm), whether the findings of the report have relevance for areas fluoridated at 1 ppm in view both of the wide variations in individual human response and of the council's finding that infants and young children are three to four times as susceptible to fluoride as adults; and

Answer: The main recommendation of the National Research Council's (NRC) committee on fluoride in drinking water that the Environmental Protection Agency's maximum fluoride level of 4 parts per million (ppm) should be lowered is not relevant to the United Kingdom where the maximum concentration permitted is 1.5 ppm. The findings of the NRC report are consistent with our view that water is safe and healthy at the levels used for water fluoridation. However, the committee's report includes a wide-ranging review of the effects of fluoride with a number of recommendations for further research, which are informing the development of our research programme. While we remain of the view that the only risk to infants and young children from their higher exposure to fluoride is the cosmetic effects of dental fluorosis, we will ensure that research and monitoring of the effects of water fluoridation on systematic health is sensitive to any unique effects on this age group.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 8; 696 c78-9WA
Session: 2007-08
Related items: Fluoridation
Monday, 1 October 2007
Written questions
House of Lords; Fluoridation
Monday, 1 October 2007
Written questions
House of Lords; Fluoridation
Monday, 1 October 2007
Written questions
House of Lords
Subjects: Children Health hazards Drinking water Fluoride Dental health
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk