§ Mr. Skeetasked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what levels of fluorosis in cattle affect milk supply and the general health of cattle; and to what extent a dangerous concentration of fluorine has occurred in Bedfordshire;
(2) on how many occasions during the past three years the fluorine level has been such as to be injurious to cattle;
(3) what is the distance from a fluoride source which he estimates to be required to avoid lameness in cattle.
§ Mrs. FennerThe level of fluorine in milk from cattle suffering from industrial fluorosis is not necessarily higher than in milk from other animals. It is not in any event significant in relation to the quality of milk supplies. The health of an affected animal is generally related to the degree of lameness that has developed.
Deposition of fluorine in the brick-making areas of Bedford is of longstanding. The effects on cattle can be mitigated by adopting an appropriate husbandry system.
Seven instances have been investigated by my Department where problems associated with industrial fluorosis in cattle may have occurred in the last three years. One of these was in Bedfordshire. Investigations carried out 210W by my Department from 1953–61 show that in general cattle may be affected with lameness if they are within about 2 miles of an industrial undertaking emitting significant quantities of fluorine. The results of these investigations have been published in the following reports copies of which I understand are available in the House of Commons Library:
Animal Disease Surveys Report No. 2 (Part I) (Fluorosis in Cattle) Published by HMSO 1964.Animal Disease Surveys Report No. 2 (Part II) (Fluorosis in Cattle) Published by HMSO 1965.