§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list the research projects funded by his Department to investigate the chronic toxic effect of fluoride on body enzymes and proteins. [130198]
§ Yvette CooperThe Department and its predecessors have not funded any specific research projects on the effects of fluoride on enzymes or other body proteins.
§ Mr. EtheringtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Health if he will list for each(a) health authority in England and Wales and (b) water company supplying artificially fluoridated drinking water the safety tests that are carried out in respect of (i) silicofluorides and (ii) hydrofluosilicic acid. [130204]
§ Yvette CooperAll substances used in the treatment of water supplies must be approved by the Drinking Water Inspectorate acting on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions. Disodium hexafluorosilicate (a silicofluoride) and hexafluorosilicic acid (also called hydrofluorosilicic acid) are approved for use in artificial fluoridation schemes under the Water Industry Act 1991, subject to compliance with a Code of Practice on the Technical Aspects of the Fluoridation of Water Supplies published by the Department of the Environment. This code covers the design, construction, operation and maintenance of fluoridation plant to ensure that the correct level of fluoride is added and there are fail-safe precautions against over dosing. The code includes a detailed specification for the two chemicals together with advice to water companies on how to check the purity of the chemicals against the specification.