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Fluoridation and Birth Defects printable version
06 Nov 2015 filed by editor - General, Health By Owen Boyden
Ireland’s nationally enforced mandatory water fluoridation policy continues to be a source of controversy in the run up to the impending general election planned for early 2016.The Expert Body whose primary statutory function (Set up in 2004 as a result of one of the recommendations of the Irish Fluoridation Forum Report 2002) is to advise the Minister for and the Department on any ongoing matters of concern in relation to Ireland’s fluoridation policy. The Chairman and Committee of The Expert Body have recently been sent a letter by the Fluoride Free Towns campaign group claiming fluoridation is causing birth defects to a significant proportion of the Irish population.
The Campaign group alleges systemic fluoride ingestion interrupts the enamel formation stage of tooth development which for the primary dentition (baby, milk or deciduous teeth) occurs during fetal development or pregnancy as a result of the maternal fluoride intake crossing the placenta. However, determining whether an infant has suffered this condition is not possible until an infant’s baby teeth erupt at an age of between 6 months and 2 years old. The same developmental disturbance occurs to the permanent dentition of infants and children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years old as a result of exposure to fluoride from sources including infant formula constituted with fluoridated water, food products manufactured with artificially fluoridated water or naturally occurring fluoride and or dental products such as toothpaste or mouth rinses which contain extremely high levels of fluoride.
This adverse effect of fluoride is commonly referred to as dental fluorosis and has been known to be a result of over exposure to fluoride since the early 20th century yet despite claims by various organisations to the policy’s (fluoridation) safety and effectiveness, a safety threshold has yet to be determined by any scientific or medical experts in relation to the prevention of dental fluorosis. Alarmingly, a 2005 study conducted in Cork City and County one of whose authors are a former member of The Expert Body Committee found 32% of those living in a fluoridated region had experienced fluorosis damage to their primary dentitions yet no action was taken to prevent or restrict such harm occurring as a result of the study’s findings.
The Fluoride Free Towns group is advising the general public to reduce their daily intake of fluoride to zero until a safety threshold has been determined and are especially recommending expectant mothers to avoid all sources of fluoride to ensure their child when born does not suffer from fluoride induced birth defects. Additionally and in line with recommendations of the WHO (World Health Organisation), the FFT group are recommending mothers breastfeed their infants as breast milk has been found to contain over 100 times less fluoride then infant formula constituted with fluoridated water.
Owen Boyden, director of the West Cork Fluoride Free Campaign and The National Fluoride Free Towns Project when contacted for comment in relation to the claim that fluoride causes birth defects said: “Fluoridation is a serious matter of urgent national importance requiring immediate intervention and action by the Department of Health in order to protect the Constitutional rights of the unborn and individuals to bodily integrity. We are advising people to avoid all sources of fluoride especially expectant mothers, infants and children. Pre eruption damage to the enamel formation stage of primary and permanent dentitions commonly referred to as fluorosis is widely known which has unfortunately been sidelined as just a cosmetic issue which it clearly is not and authorities have been very slow to acknowledge and warn the public on the damage fluoride can cause to developing fetuses. The FFT amongst other groups that form the current national effort will continue to publicly raise these serious concerns in relation fluoridation and campaign to have the policy reversed.”
This latest development comes on the back of major political opposition to fluoridation where Cork County, Cork City, Kerry, Laois, Dublin City, Wexford, Leitrim, Galway, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal, Dublin South, Waterford City and Waterford County Councils representing over half the Irish population all passed motions in 2014 and early 2015 calling on the Government to immediately scrap The Health (fluoridation of water supplies) Act 1960 and bring Ireland’s position to this matter in line with EU precedent for which not one other European Government maintain a similar policy due to health, environmental, legal or ethical concerns as a result of ongoing scientific, medical or political objection.
Notes
- The issue of primary dentition fluorosis occurring during fetal development is addressed in Appendix 2 of the SCHER Report
- SCHER concluded fluorosis occurs at undetectable threshold of systemic fluoride ingestion
- SCHER concluded fluorosis is an adverse effect
- The recent HRB review conducted at the request of the DoH to assist officials in deciding future policy in relation to fluoridation for unknown reasons in it’s review question and terms of reference was requested to omit any references to the effects of fluoridation on dental health which had the Review Authors been requested to, the issue of primary dentition fluorosis occurring during fetal development may have been addressed which one hope would have spelt the obvious for the policy
- Click here for pdf copy of The Expert Body letter referred to which contains references to relevant reports and studies
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