§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will make fluoride tablets available on prescription to those persons who are medically advised that they should take fluoride as a prophylactic, in areas where fluoride is not present in the water supplies at a level of one milligram per litre; and if he will make a statement;
(2) what study he has made of the findings of Edwards, Pantlos and Kroot on the effect of fluoride on hydrogen bonding in cyclochrome-c and peroxidase inhibited with fluoride; what are the implications of this research for his assessment of the safety of fluoridating water at 1 part per million; and if he will make a statement;
(3) why he has hitherto indemnified statutory water undertakers which fluoridate water supplies.
§ Mr. John PattenI shall let my hon. Friend have replies as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the powers of his Department to assist and provide compensation in the event of an accidental addition of fluoride to water supplies.
§ Mr. John PattenDuring the 30 years in which water fluoridation has taken place in this country, there have been no instances of accidental fluoride poisoning as a result of excess inclusion of fluoride in the water supply. However, in the event of such an accident any person who believed he or she had suffered injury could sue for damages the relevant health or water authority or whomsoever else he or she believed to be responsible.
§ Mr. Bestasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has to the LD50 level of fluoride ion in animals, specifying the animals involved.
§ Mrs. Fenner[pursuant to her reply, 26 February 1985, c. 141]: The information on poisoning by fluoride in animals, that is available, shows that toxicity is influenced by many variables. Acute lethal effects from the more toxic compounds producing fluoride ions have been reported following oral intakes between 25 and 100 milligrams (as fluorine) per kilogram of body weight. This information relates to rabbits, rats, dogs, calves, sheep and goats.