Earl Baldwin of Bewdleyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why the figure for safe intakes of fluoride for bottle-fed infants in areas with fluoridated water has been changed from 0.05 mg/kg/day in the 1991 Department of Health Report on Health and Social Subjects 41 (at paragraph 36.2) to 0.22 mg/kg/day in the 1996 version (36.8.1); and in particular whether this change is dependent on the finding in 36.8.1 that this is what some infants are in fact ingesting; and [HL2180]
Whether they still believe that the 0.05 mg/kg/day figure for safe intakes of fluoride in bottle-fed infants in areas with fluoridated water represents 50 per cent. of the amount likely to cause dental fluorosis, as stated in the 1991 Department of Health Report on Health and Social Subjects 41 at paragraph 36.2; and, if they do not, what evidence has caused them to change their minds. [HL2181]
100WA
§ The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Health (Baroness Hayman)It has never been the government view that 0.05 mg/kg/d represented 50 per cent. of the intake likely to cause dental fluorosis among infants. The 1991 edition of the Department of HealthReport on Health and Social Subjects No.41 (36.2) wrongly quoted a level of 0.05 mg/kg/d for all infants and children when, in fact, that was the level appropriate for children over six years and adults. This was corrected in 1994 (6th impression) when the chapter on fluoride (Chapter 36) was rewritten to ensure that accurate information was available.