Bolton Evening
News, Tuesday, May 14, 2002. Latest fluoride plans given the brush
off
By Gayle Evans
Health bosses have
been attacked over fresh plans to add fluoride to the town's water
supply, reopening a controversial 38-year-old debate.
A Bolton MP and councillor
have criticised the move by regional health bosses to make fluoridation
of the North-west's tap water a priority.
They claim there are
still serious question marks over the use of the chemical and it
should only be added to supplies if the public asks for it in a
referendum.
The last time the
town voted, in 1968, a massive 82 per cent said no to the plans.
Bolton was the only town in the country to hold such a vote.
Health bosses say
mass medication is the only way to reduce tooth decay in children
under five by half.
The Greater Manchester
Health Authority knows it faces a battle. It said that it would
need to "overcome substantial barriers prior to successful
implementation."
It is waiting for
the results of a medical research study, with the outcome expected
in three mponths time. If the dossier recommends that further research
is required, the region will be put forward as an "obvious
candidate" for a pilot programme.
But the news has caused
anger among campaigners against fluoridation, including Bolton North
East MP David Crausby.
Mr Crausby said: "It
is not up to the Greater Manchester Health Authority to make this
decision. I will be asking questions in parliament and will be pushing
for a referendum in Bolton.
"There should
be widespread consultation with the public, not just people who
regard themselves as speakers for the public.
"If they say
attitudes have changed, then test it - hold another referendum,
then we will know for sure. Let the people decide."
Derek Schoular, chairman
of Bolton's dental committee, welcomes plans for fluoride to be
added to the water. He said most dentists wanted to see a reduction
in tooth decay, which he described as "rife" in Bolton,
with most five-year-olds having an average of three bad teeth.
In fluoridated Birmingham,
children have only one bad tooth by the time they are five, claims
Mr Schoular.
He added: "The
Local Dental Committee fully support fluoride in the water. We want
to see the end of tooth decay on the scale that we are seeing it
in Birmingham."
Bolton Council is
part of the North West Councils Against Fluoridation. Liz Vaughan,
from the campaign, said: "The people of Bolton will want to
fight this. There is stacks of evidence to suggest that fluoride
damages our health."
Cllr Bob Ronson said
fluoride was highly toxic and mistakes could be made.
He said: "The
water board have refused to put it in the water because the Government
will not cover them if there is any possible damage. I think that
says it all.
Bolton Evening News, Tuesday, May 14, 2002
OPINION - .
Here we go again.
The debate about
adding fluoride to the water supply is about to receive another
airing.
Our letters
postbag is set for another bashing now that the Great Manchester
Health Authority has announced that it wants to make fluoridation
of the North-west's tap water a priority.
It is convinced
that mass medication is the only way to achieve a 50 per cent reduction
in tooth decay among the under fives.
Organisations
like Bolton's dental committee agree entirely, but this view has
been contested vigorously in Bolton for more than 30 years and you
can bet that the anti-campaigners will be active once more.
The regional
health authority is looking forward to the results of a medical
research study due to be published in three months's time.
If it recommends
that further research is required, the region will be put forward
for a pilot programme.
Should this
be suggested Bolton - which voted against fluoridation in a 1968
referendum - can be expected to resist the idea strongly.
Bolton Council
is part of the North West Councils Against Fluoride body and supports
the view that there is a great deal of evidence to suggest that
fluoride can be damaging to health.
This newspaper,
over the years, has been against compulsory medication and sees
no reason to change its mind at this stage.
It looks as
though the medical establishment is embarking on new efforts to
convince us that the experts know best.
But even it
is wins the argument - and there are plenty who say it will not
- the obstacles to mass fluoridation are pretty steep.
Bolton North-east
MP David Crausby is already calling for a new referendum in Bolton
and there could be a similar scenario in some of the other North-west
towns which could be affected.
But the biggest
problem blocking the way for the fluoride lobby is the fact that
a privatised water company, United Utilities, would be responsible
for adding the chemical.
It clearly has
to look after the interests of its shareholders and will take some
convincing that implementation costs - and possible compensation
claims - are worth the risk.
NOTE FROM NPWA: Following the York Review Report in October 2000,
a disappointed Government asked the Medical Research Council "to
see what further research is required to strengthen the evidence base."
It was due to report last year.
See Dr Paul
McCormick's letter to the MRC in August 2001 - http://www.npwa.freeserve.co.uk/mccormick_letter.html.
See also the
"Request for Assistance" from the US Environmental Protection
Agency in April this year - http://www.epa.gov/ORD/NRMRL/wswrd/rfa-fluoride.pdf
.
Jane Jones,
Campaign Director.
www.npwa.freeserve.co.uk
