§ Mr. Jim Lesterasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what level of fluoride intake from all sources other than water can be assessed in the Nottingham area; and if he will publish the relevant figures.
§ Mr. MoyleFluoride is naturally present in varying proportions in much of the diet, but the intake cannot be stated for any particular part of the country. The total intake from solid food is relatively small, amounting to only 0.5 milligram to 1.0 milligram per head per day in Britain. Tea represents a major source of fluoride in the diet in Britain but even taking account of the variations in the type of tea, duration of infusion and quantity drunk, the average daily intake of fluoride from tea and other sources is estimated for most people to be less than 3 milligrams in areas with very little fluoride in the water and less than 5 milligrams where the fluoride level is 1 milligram per litre. The Royal College of Physicians considered this and other information before concluding in its report "Fluoride, Teeth and Health" (Pitman Medical 1976) that there was no evidence that the consumption of water containing 1 milligram per litre—1 part per million—482W of fluoride in a temperate climate was associated with any harmful effect.