Dentists' group takes up battle against fluoridation
Saturday October 27 2001
The lobby group, Irish Dentists Opposing Fluoridation, released the results of analysis by the Eastern Health Authority which found arsenic, mercury and silicon in fluoride samples.
The group has taken legal advice and is considering taking a court action to force the Minister for Health to carry out surveys on the health effects of fluoridation.
So far 15 dentists have joined Irish Dentists Opposing Fluoridation out of an estimated 1,800 dentists nationwide. However, Dr John Weaver, one of the 15, predicted that the profession would soon "come out en masse" because of the number of fluoride-related problems they are encountering.
The group handed in a letter of protest to Leinster House yesterday describing fluoridation as "mass medication without prescription". Because the public has no say on the issue, the dentists regard it as a breach of human rights. They also say that fluoride causes fluorosis or tooth damage leading to white spots or brown stains on teeth.
The group says that international scientific studies link fluoride with health problems such as cancer, hip fractures, osteoporosis, thyroid dysfunction, neurological problems and irritable bowel syndrome.
Dr Don MacAuley, spokesman for the group, said yesterday that he used to prescribe fluoride pills until he researched the subject.
He showed photographs of a young patient's stained teeth and said the cosmetic dental treatment needed to correct the fluoride-related damage would cost from £5,000-£6,000.
With the Minister's Forum on Fluoridation due to report within the next two weeks, Dr MacAuley said the group felt this would just be a rubber stamp for existing policy. The new lobby group was supported by the Green Party and Labour's Emmet Stagg who said he was strongly opposed to any compulsory medication. Mr Stagg stressed that he regarded fluoride in water as "a poison" rather than a medicine.
The new lobby group describes Ireland as "probably the most fluoridated country in the world".
- Marese McDonagh
