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Opponents set for fluoride face-off

5:30am Wednesday 24th September 2008

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THEY have been having their say for months, but campaigners from both sides of the fluoride divide are now going head to head in a series of public debates.

Residents and those who work in parts of Southampton, Eastleigh, Totton and Netley where fluoride could be added to water supplies, will get the chance to hear the opinions and then quiz the experts.

South Central Strategic Health Authority, the body which oversees the region’s healthcare and is running the 14-week public consultation on fluoridation, has organised three Question Time-style events.

After months of arguments since the decision to hold a consultation on the controversial scheme, the debates will be the first time the two sides have shared a stage.

Panel members at St Mary’s Stadium will include representatives from the Department of Health and Southampton City Primary Care Trust – which is the body that is behind the moves to increase fluoride in the water.

They will be joined by members of Hampshire Against Fluoridation and the National Pure Water Association, who argue that the scheme is unethical, has unproven health benefits and could lead to dangerous side effects.

The three evening events, to be held on October 20, November 18 and December 3, will be independently chaired by Peter White, the BBC’s disability affairs correspondent.

Olga Senior, the SHA’s director of communications and corporate affairs, said the events, which take place alongside nine drop-in roadshows, show the SHA wants to encourage the debate.

“Throughout the public consultation we are committed to providing local people with accurate information about water fluoridation along with plenty of opportunities for people to ask questions,” she said.

“We want to hear what those who live or work in the area think about the proposed scheme to help the SHA make a final decision next year.”

Anyone interested in attending the Question Time events needs to register in advance for a seat by calling 0800 023 4680.



Your Say YourDaily Echo

Andy Locks Heath, says...
7:55am Wed 24 Sep 08

The Echo only launch a new fluoride story every day just so Jim Schultz has to type his essay in all over again. Over to you Jim.......

Big Boy, Hythe says...
8:10am Wed 24 Sep 08

Oh bloody hell, do we have to go through Jim Schultz again! OK, if he must, he must.

haf, Cadnam says...
8:49am Wed 24 Sep 08

Did you know the amount of tonnage of fluorosilicic acid they will put in our water supply? If they do both schemes it is 112.3 tonnes (NHS figures) per year and it is only 98% pure. Going by a table I found of the impurities in this substance we will be putting in 561.5 kilos of arsenic alone. They don't tell you that.

Andre, says...
9:17am Wed 24 Sep 08

Fluoride is a CRITICAL industrial component.

Once dumped, or umm diluted into the water supply it caramba!, miracles of all miracles, it turns an amazingly delicious & nutritious

substance!!

It magically by-passes everything in the body unharmed once swallowed, yep, it affects only the teeth, nothing else!

When in soaking in the bath tub, or under a nice long shower, it may? cut down on tooth decay?

Everything in the body remains unharmed & untouched by it!?

So we blindly? are led to believe by the ruling elite...

Yeah sure...

sadtobehere, Southampton says...
9:59am Wed 24 Sep 08

Why are all parental responsibilities being withdrawn?If parents taught their children to brush their teeth. If the dentists did a professional job, there would be no need to add anything to our water. If the PCTs allocated dentists, to the areas where they are needed, such as Bishops Waltham. I wonder how many people will die of mouth cancer due to the lack of dentists in Hampshire.

Andy Locks Heath, says...
10:24am Wed 24 Sep 08

sadtobehere wrote:
Why are all parental responsibilities being withdrawn?If parents taught their children to brush their teeth. If the dentists did a professional job, there would be no need to add anything to our water. If the PCTs allocated dentists, to the areas where they are needed, such as Bishops Waltham. I wonder how many people will die of mouth cancer due to the lack of dentists in Hampshire.
You're right - this should be the crux of the argument, though I would rephrase it as "How do we protect children's teeth when their parents are negligent and don't do it themselves?" If we had compulsory (and free) dental checkups for children both in schools and in dental surgeries, with the parents liable if their children do not attend at least once per year this would be a start.It would require more dentists but consider that buffoon GOrdon Brown wants to spend yet another £2bn of taxpayers money on providing "free" laptops to every family in the country because of some bloody crackpot notion from the idiotic Ed Balls that it will benefit our kids - Don't you think our money would be better spent on guaranteeing childrens dental health (without fluoridating them) rather than giving dad an extra laptop to watch **** in the evenings or the kids to MSN each other? Just a thought.

Andy Locks Heath, says...
10:26am Wed 24 Sep 08

Sorry folks - what a ridiculously prudish text checker the Echo has - the word edited out of my post was only p-0-r-n for goodness sake!

Miles Sway, Scotland says...
11:54am Wed 24 Sep 08

That's a good idea Andy - I remember the old nit checker going around checking hair periodically, it'd be a great idea to have the same for dental and maybe specific extra classes on dental hygiene for those failing or urgent dental referals. The savings on related long term health issues could be huge

haf, Cadnam says...
12:02pm Wed 24 Sep 08

Not Southampton but let's hope our councillors also decide the same.

'No' to fluoride in water
23/ 9/2008

COUNCILLORS have voted a resounding “no’’ to plans to add fluoride to the region’s water supply.

Speaking at Wednesday's Cabinet meeting, members from the Conservative, Labour and Independent parties all voted against the plans put forward by the Strategic Health Authority.

Hyndburn Council had been asked for its views on the subject by the East Lancashire Primary Care Trust which is helping to carry out a consultation process.

Council leader Peter Britcliffe said: “For a number of years this council has opposed the poisoning of the water supply by adding fluoride.

“Nobody ever seems to take ‘no’ for an answer. Someone is back at the table asking us the same question again. How many parts of the word ‘no’ do these people not understand?”

goard, Southampton says...
12:42pm Wed 24 Sep 08

Our blogs - are they ever taken into consideration, or are we just blowing our horn (opinions)? Nevertheless, we are all sincerly concerned at the way our Country is going - we may even voice other peoples' opinions who do not have a computer. Seriously, it is of very serious concern - THERE IS AN INFRINGMENT ON OUR LIBERTY. We represent 90% of families, are really concerned at the encrouchment into our everyday lives. It could be anarchy if Governments go too far. Unfortunately, that will mean a complete breakdown of the economic system that is imposed in our country.

goard

nyscof, Old Bethpage says...
1:18pm Wed 24 Sep 08

Fluoridation puts tea drinkers at risk of damaged bones, discolored teeth and soft tissue harm, studies show.

Tea has naturally high fluoride levels. There is no dispute between those for and against fluoridation that excess fluoride can weaken bones and discolor children’s un-erupted teeth.

Four cups, of 20 teas sampled, delivered 0.8 to 1.8 mg of fluoride, reports Cao et al. in the Journal " Food Chemistry." (2004)

“Among populations habitually consuming black tea, water fluoridation is not only unnecessary but also possibly harmful…The target organs of chronic fluoride intoxication are not only the teeth and skeleton, but also the liver, kidney, nervous and reproductive systems,” they write.

A March 2008 Food and Chemical Toxicology study found up to 4.5, 1.8, and 0.5 mg/L fluoride in black, green and white teas, respectively, when brewed for 5 minutes (61 teas sampled).

Brewed teas could contain up to 6 mg/L fluoride depending on the amount of dry tea used, the water fluoride concentration and the brewing time, says the American Dental Association (ADA).

According to 1997 ADA data, 3 and 4 milligrams daily is adequate for women and men, respectively, to prevent fluoride’s adverse effects It’s much lower for children. In 2006, the National Research Council reported the basis for those levels should be reduced.

Your physicians are not trained to diagnose skeletal fluorosis. So many arthritic type disease and bone disorders will never be attributed to the fluoridated water and/or the high intake of fluoride containing tea.

Dentists who are pushing fluoride into you certainly have no idea what fluoride can do to the rest of the body.

Nutstrangler, Totton says...
2:06pm Wed 24 Sep 08

I really do not see why the majority, who do not wish to have chemicals, possibly harmful, possibly not, added to their domestic water supplies. Those in authority, who wish to go ahead with this plan, insist that it is necessary to promote dental health in the young. Excuse me? Those that this is aimed at are the last ones likely to either drink water, or for that matter, clean their teeth. Their preferred diet of sweet fizzy drinks, crisps and chocolate will ensure that their teeth continue to rot,and the rest of us will just have to put up with the chemicals. Thaks a bunch!

Adrian Smith, Planet Earth says...
3:00pm Wed 24 Sep 08

"Anyone interested in attending the Question Time events needs to register in advance for a seat by calling 0800 023 4680"

Actually this just has a vmail system and doesn't even mention the QT's. I have asked for a seat at the first session - I wonder if the questions have to be pre-approved?

Jim Schultz, Ormond Beach FL USA says...
3:29pm Wed 24 Sep 08

Please go to waterloowatch.com to understand the damage of additional lead leached from plumbing by H2SiF6. It makes the water much more corrosive to brass and copper leaching lead in addition to the 20 plus unmentioned contaminates with arsenic at the top of the list. The Coplan study is at the top of the first page--just click. Kids need dentists and better nutrition. Burt 2007

Bagamn, Southampton says...
5:33pm Wed 24 Sep 08

If everyone who does not want their water system interfered with, and took out an injunction against the PCT, would the PCT still go ahead with this illegal action? I don't think that this unelected lot could risk facing a very large fine on themselves. If a writ was served on them , they may think twice before trying to poison us all. Why don,t they check on the demographics that show there are more elderly people living in the area than youngsters.

Adrian Smith, Planet Earth says...
7:33pm Wed 24 Sep 08

Adrian Smith wrote:
"Anyone interested in attending the Question Time events needs to register in advance for a seat by calling 0800 023 4680"Actually this just has a vmail system and doesn't even mention the QT's. I have asked for a seat at the first session - I wonder if the questions have to be pre-approved?
I have a seat at the first QT - but they haven't confirmed whether questions/submission
s have to be pre-approved.

stuartjebbitt, Eastleigh says...
8:37pm Wed 24 Sep 08

I am down for the second one as I want to know if they will pay my relocation costs as I will most definately move away if this comes in. Desmond Swaynes constituency seems a safe bet as he is very anti-fluoride. If your on facebook theres a very good group called 'Fight Fluoridation in Southampton' with 159 members and lost of flyers you can print out to deliever to your friends and neighbours.

Rob444, Southampton says...
8:53pm Wed 24 Sep 08

The Council's website has details for holding referenda.

http://www.southampt
on.gov.uk/thecouncil
/elections/referenda
.asp

It states that:
A referendum can be called if a petition is submitted to the local authority containing the signatures of 5% of electorate in the Council’s Register of Electors having effect on 15th February in any given year.

The required number is 8585, possibly too large to find sufficiently interested people.

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