§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the several chemicals in normal water supply that condition the teeth and prevent or defer dental decay.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd March 1978; Vol. 946, c. 714–15], gave the following information:
Fluoride is the only substance in the water supply which is at present known to have a significant effect in the prevention of dental decay. Many studies have shown one part of fluoride per million parts of water to be the most satisfactory proportion in temperate climates.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether there is any link between fluoride absorption by the 390W body and cancer; and whether any studies have been undertaken concerning the carcinogenicity of fluorides.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd March 1978; Vol. 946, c. 714–15], gave the following information:
Studies in this country and elsewhere have failed to demonstrate any such link. The Royal College of Physicians reviewed the research in this field and concluded in its report published in 1976 that there was no evidence that fluoride increased the incidence or mortality of cancer in any organ.
Since this conclusion was challenged by a private agency in the United States, the Royal College of Physicians invited the views of the council of the Royal Statistical Society. The society commissioned an investigation independently of the Royal college, by two experts, whose detailed report—published in "Applied Statistics, 1977", Vol. 26, pages 125–135—established that the American allegation had not been substantiated and concurred that there was no evidence that fluoride increased cancer mortality. The National Cancer Institute, a branch of the United States Public Health Service, reached a similar conclusion.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on whether fluoridated water causes chromosomal damage and increases in tumour growth in animals.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd March 1978; Vol. 946, c. 714–5], gave the following information:
Research into these questions has been carried out in the United States by the Laboratory of Developmental Biology and Anomalies, National Institute of Dental Research, National Institutes of Health.
A statement on the results of this research, published in the British Dental Journal of 15th November 1977, page 325, explained that mice bred and raised on no-fluoride and high-fluoride water showed no chromosomal abnormalities that could be related to fluoride intake. Further, special tests for mutagenic activity in bacteria exposed to a wide range of fluoride concentrations also proved negative.
391WIt was concluded, therefore, that fluoride does not alter chromosome structure and is not mutagenic according to the results of either double-blind animal tests or a recognised system of bacterial mutagenesis assay.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the effect of fluoride on teeth; and whether it has a continuing operation after the lapse of an initial period of two to three years.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd March 1978; Vol. 946, c. 714–5], gave the following information:
The reports of the results achieved after five and 11 years of the official fluoridation studies in the United Kingdom—Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects Nos. 105 and 122—Her Majesty's Stationery Office 1962 and 1969—showed that dental decay was substantially reduced among children in the study areas who had received fluoridated water from birth, compared with children of the same ages in similar non-fluoridated control areas.
Studies carried out among lifetime residents of Hartlepool, where the water supply has a satisfactory level of fluoride naturally, compared with the low-fluoride control area of York, found that the dental condition of people aged from 15 to 65 years in Hartlepool was much better than that of similar residents of York.
The Royal College of Physicians reviewed these and many other studies, and in its report "Fluoride, Teeth and Health" (Pitman Medical, 1976) concluded that fluoride in water, added or naturally present at a level of about one part per million over the years of tooth formation—from birth to 14 years of age—substantially reduces dental caries throughout life.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has on the effects of fluoride upon kidneys, liver, lungs and main arteries; and whether the accumulation of the chemical in the body is injurious to health.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd March 1978; Vol. 946, c. 714–15], gave the following information:
392WExtensive studies here and abroad have not shown any harm to health associated with one part per million of fluoride in water supplies—the proportion used in fluoridation—during periods of over 30 years in North America and over 20 years in the United Kingdom for which fluoridation has been practised or during the longer periods for which similar proportions of fluoride have been present naturally in the water supplies of some communities.
The Royal College of Physicians comprehensively reviewed this research and concluded that there was no evidence that the consumption of water containing about one part per million of fluoride in a temperate climate was associated with any harmful effect.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether fluoride affects humans and in what way; and if he will list the type of industries that are responsible for fluorides entering the atmosphere.
§ Mr. Moyle, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 23rd March 1978; Vol. 946, c. 714–15], gave the following information:
There is abundant evidence from this country and abroad that the consumption during the years of tooth formation—from birth to 14 years of age—of water containing one part per million of fluor-fluoride, whether present naturally or added artificially, is a safe and effective means of substantially improving dental health in the community. For example, the report on the first 11 years of the official fluoridation studies in the United Kingdom—Reports on Public Health and Medical Subjects No. 122—concluded that the fluoridation of water supplies at the level of one part per million of fluoride was a highly effective way of reducing dental decay and was completely safe. Long exposure to excessive amounts of fluoride—sometimes combined with climatic and nutritional factors—may cause skeletal changes or, if exposure occurs during the period of tooth development, an increased prevalence of dental mottling—of which there are several other causes.
Fluoridation of water supplies at the recommended level would not significantly increase the amount of fluoride in the 393W environment compared with the amounts already present naturally.
Fluoride is emitted in small amounts from several industries, the chief of which are those in which coal is burned, certain metallurgical and fertiliser industries and brickmaking. Under the Alkali, &c. Works Regulation Act 1906, firms in such industries are required to use the best practicable means for preventing such emissions or for rendering them harmless and inoffensive. The intake of fluoride by inhalation is small and no human hazard has been shown from this cause.
§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Social Services which water authorities and boards provide for the fluoridation of their water supplies.
§ Mr. Denis HowellI have been asked to reply.
I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brent, South (Mr. Pavitt) on 6th February.—[Vol. 943, c. 405–6.]