§ 43. Dr. Strossasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works, as representing the Lord President of the Council, whether he has noted that the experimental evidence now available, showing prolonged intake of fluorine compounds, causes chronic kidney disease in animals, before bone changes occur; and whether he will institute an investigation of the neighbourhood hazards of industrial fluorosis in Stoke-on-Trent, so as to estimate the danger to human beings.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Works (Mr. Hugh Molson)I am aware that in one investigation large doses of sodium fluoride administered in the diet to rats for more than 10 months produced changes in the kidneys. This is a very different matter from exposure to minute proportions of fluorine in the 1870 atmosphere and I know of no new evidence which would suggest that further research on human fluorosis should be undertaken in Stoke-on-Trent. As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Health indicated in her speech on the Adjournment on Thursday last, the problem of pollution of the atmosphere with fluorides will no doubt be within the terms of reference of the committee on air pollution which the Government propose to set up.
§ Dr. StrossDoes not the Parliamentary Secretary see that the evidence existing is that fluorine compounds are being used more and more in industry generally and that there is an increasing hazard to human beings? Would he at least say whether the experiment to which I have referred and which he has quoted is checked to see if it be accurate?
§ Mr. MolsonThere is at present no evidence that the gravity of fluoride poisoning in the case of human beings is sufficient to warrant a detailed investigation by the Medical Research Council. As the hon. Member is aware, in the case of animals the danger of fluoride poisoning is very much greater than in the case of human beings.