§ Mr. BlizzardTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what assessment he has made of whether proposals to raise the level of fluoride in drinking water involve the use of hexafluorosilic acid. [13685]
§ Jacqui SmithHexaflurosilicic acid (also called hydrofluorosilicic acid) is approved for use in artificial fluoridation schemes under the Water Industry Act 1991 and is subject to compliance with a Code of Practice on the Technical Aspects of the Fluoridation of Water Supplies published by the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
The code covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of fluoridation plant to ensure that the correct level of fluoride is added and there are fail-safe precautions against overdosing. The code includes a detailed specification for added chemicals with advice to water companies on how to check the purity of the chemicals against the specification.
All substances used in the treatment of water supplies are approved by the Drinking Water Inspectorate, acting on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for DEFRA.