Fluoride: National Pure Water Association Campaign against fluoridation of UK drinking water.

York Review Chairman concerned about "misrepresentation" by profluoride lobby

The final report of the government-sponsored Review into the benefits and adverse effects of water fluoridation, conducted by NHS CRD at York University was published in October 2000. Despite its narrow inclusion protocol and obvious flaws, the pro-fluoride lobby – the British Medical Journal, British Dental Journal, British Fluoridation Society, and other dental organisations throughout the world – jumped on it as evidence that water fluoridation was both safe and effective. The British government's Health Minister, Yvette Cooper, was relying on its support when she said in Parliament on 30 October:

The Review has been criticised by the NPWA and leading scientists because of its initial protocol and the way in which the inclusion criteria were changed to exclude specific evidence of harm. Now Professor Trevor Sheldon, MSc, MSc, DSc, FMedSci, a Review Chairman, has written of his concern that the results of the review are being widely misrepresented by proponents of fluoridation.

DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH STUDIES
Innovative Centre,
York Science Park,
University Road,
YORK, YO10 5DG

3/1/2001

In my capacity of chair of the Advisory Group for the systematic review on the effects of water fluoridation recently conducted by the NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination the University of York and as it founding director, I am concerned that the results of the review have been widely misrepresented. The review was exceptional in this field in that it was conducted by an independent group to the highest international scientific standards and a summary has been published in the British Medical Journal. It is particularly worrying then that statements which mislead the public about the review's findings have been made in press releases and briefings by the British Dental Association, British Medical Association, the National Alliance for Equity in Dental Health and the British Fluoridation Society. I should like to correct some of these errors.

1 Whilst there is evidence that water fluoridation is effective at reducing caries, the quality of the studies was generally moderate and the size of the estimated benefit, only of the order of 15%, is far from "massive".

2 The review found water fluoridation to be significantly associated with high levels of dental fluorosis which was not characterised as "just a cosmetic issue".

3 The review did not show water fluoridation to be safe. The quality of the research was too poor to establish with confidence whether or not there are potentially important adverse effects in addition to the high levels of fluorosis. The report recommended that more research was needed.

4 There was little evidence to show that water fluoridation has reduced social inequalities in dental health.

5 The review could come to no conclusion as to the cost-effectiveness of water fluoridation or whether there are different effects between natural or artificial fluoridation.

6 Probably because of the rigour with which this review was conducted, these findings are more cautious and less conclusive than in most previous reviews.

7 The review team was surprised that in spite of the large number of studies carried out over several decades there is a dearth of reliable evidence with which to inform policy. Until high quality studies are undertaken providing more definite evidence, there will continue to be legitimate scientific controversy over the likely effects and costs of water fluoridation.

(Signed) T.A. Sheldon,
Professor Trevor Sheldon, MSc, MSc, DSc, FMedSci.

Compare Professor Sheldon's letter with what the British Fluoridation Society says about the York Review's findings on their questions and answers webpage (http://www.derweb.co.uk/bfs/york_qa.html)

[NOTA BENE: This review considered ONLY fluoride exposure from water fluoridation: it did NOT examine the total fluoride exposure of populations from all sources, which the World Health Organisation advises SHOULD be done. The narrow criteria of the review resulted in the exclusion of all animal studies, all biochemical studies and all mathematical and statistical models, effectively eliminating from the review a vast body of scientific evidence attesting to the harmfulness of fluoride via exposure from water and a wide variety of other sources.

Of particular concern is the exclusion of a substantial body of peer-reviewed scientific evidence on the serious effects of fluoride on the thyroid gland - and a whole lot more.
See http://www.bruha.com/fluoride/html/references.html

ALSO, the York Review failed to take account of the "product" which is used to artificially fluoridate drinking water. Go to and check out "It's Pollution, Stupid!" and several other articles - fully referenced - and linked research sites. ESSENTIAL INFORMATION FOR WATER COMPANIES' DIRECTORS AND MEDIA PERSONNEL to know that industrial grade fluorosilicates (captured hazardous air pollutants) - which are untested, but DEEMED 'safe' for human consumption - are the "product" still being zealously promoted as a "public health measure." The government says it will ask the Medical Research Council to see if any further research is needed on the effects of WATER FLUORIDATION on health. Again missing the whole point!

The truth about the dangers of fluoride exposure is becoming widely known. It is time for the government to wake up and for the fluoride-pushers to examine their positions - if not their consciences - before railroading the dental profession into its greatest public relations disaster, for which they will never be forgiven.

Six million people are exposed to artificial water fluoridation* in the UK. They have a right to know what is going on and we will continue to tell them. Everyone reading this should ask themselves: "How much fluoride have I been exposed to today?" Then think about yesterday and last year - and the years before that. We excrete about half of the fluoride we ingest. The rest accumulates in our bodies. Artificial "fluoride" - fluorosilicates - contains Arsenic**, Lead, Beryllium**, Cadmium, Vanadium, Mercury, Silicon - and radionuclides.

* Mass treatment of populations, without individual consent. Violates Conventions on Human Rights and Biomedicine.