Scientists
rely on application of scientific research and the use of evidence to establish
or conform facts. This research involves the application of scientific method
to answer questions and increase our understanding of the research subject.
In undertaking my risk assessment of
the potential impacts of fluoridation of drinking water in Ireland I started
with the NHS York Review commissioned by the Chief Medical Officer of the
Department of Health which was at its time was the most comprehensive independent
examination of water fluoridation every undertaken in the UK, Europe and
perhaps the World. The report was published in 2000 and following its
publication it became apparent that their was deliberate misrepresenation of
their scientific findings by pro-fluoridation organization's both in Ireland and the UK in order to present
water fluoridation as safe.
The published letter by the Chairman
of the NHS York Review Professor Trevor A. Sheldon dated 3rd January
2001 raised many serious concerns for the integrity of science when he noted
that “It
is particularly worrying then that statements which mislead the public about
the review's findings have been made in press releases and briefings by the
British Dental Association, the British Medical Association, the National
Alliance for Equity in Dental Health and the British Fluoridation
Society.” Professor
Sheldon felt that this was so serious that it required him to published a
letter correcting these misrepresentations, in which he clearly states that the
HYS York Review found that review “did not find water fluoridation to be
safe” and “to be significantly associated with high levels of dental fluorosis
which was not characterised as "just a cosmetic issue".”
The Chairman of the York
Review further noted that the review found that “there was little evidence to
show that water fluoridation has reduced social inequalities in dental health”
and that the quality of scientific evidence to demonstrate that fluoridation of
water reduces dental caries was of particular poor quality lacking rigorous
study methodology and analytic techniques.
Following their comprehensive review of published dental
studies the NHS concluded that “There ‘appears’ to be
some evidence that water fluoridation reduces the inequalities in dental
health. This effect was not seen in the proportion of caries-free children
among 5 year-olds. The data for the effects in children of other ages did not
show an effect. The small quantity of studies, differences between these
studies, and their low quality rating, suggest caution in interpreting these
results across
social classes in 5 and 12 year-olds.”
Clearly, what this is stating is that, despite hundreds of
millions of taxpayers money being spent on water fluoridation and after over
four decades of implementing this policy, there was no conclusive evidence to
demonstrate that it actually benefited children at all. Any evidence of benefit
was only circumstantial, furthermore what they found was that water
fluoridation had no beneficial effect whatsoever on children under 5 nor did it
benefit children over 12 years of age or adults. The NHS York review concluded
that was a total lack of high quality research undertaken on public water
fluoridation and that any evidence of benefit must be taken together
with the increased prevalence of dental fluorosis. The York Review further
found that any future research into the safety and efficacy of water
fluoridation should be carried out with appropriate methodology to improve the
quality of the existing evidence base. No such studies have every been
undertaken.Astonishingly
not one these findings were presented by the Irish Forum for fluoridation when
they published their report in March 2002 and reviewed the findings of this
study. In reality the Irish Expert
Body misrepresented the York Review findings suggesting that they found water
fluoridation to be safe and did so despite the publication of the letter in
January 2001 by the Chairman of the NHS York review which specifically
corrected these statements.
For
any scientist or professional this raises serious concerns about the
objectivity, transpaprancy and accuracy of the review undertaken by the Irish
Forum for Fluoridation, as a consequence of which I commenced my own exhaustive
review of scientific factual peer reviewed information. This was not easy to
undertaken and involved piecing together individual scientific research from
over two
hundred and twenty separate peer-reviewed scientific publications covering
every aspect of science, medicine and environmental toxicology. All of the
facts presented in my report are from reputable published scientific and
medical sources. That means the facts are published and peer reviewed by
academic peers. In total over twelve hundred scientific studies were examined
in preparation of my report examining the health, legal and environmental
impacts in some detail alongside associated risks that had not yet been
previously examined elsewhere.
From my review it is
absolutely clear that all of the evidence is convergent and demonstrates that
fluoride compounds should not be added to public water supplies, when examined
collectively the evidence clearly demonstrates that fluoridation of drinking
water supplies is both unsafe and having significant negative health implications
for human health, society and the natural environment.
One central and
astonishing fact that has been documented repeatedly by every assessment to
date is that the products used for water fluoridation have never been tested
for safety on humans nor the environment. In quantifying the potential public
health risk from fluoridation of drinking water, my review found that in excess
of fifty comprehensive epidemiology, toxicology, clinical medicine, and
environmental exposure assessments were identified requiring urgent examination
on fluoride and silicofluoride chemicals in order to accurately quantify their
risks to human health. It is not only incomprehensible but immoral, illegal and
criminally negligent that none of these studies have ever been undertaken by
the responsible regulatory authories in Ireland.
For the past forty plus years, unique
to Ireland within the EU, the management of public drinking water supplies form
part of a Government medical intervention programme that consumers have not consented
to. In addition consumers have not been provided with information informing
them of the negative side effects of consuming fluoride or silicon in drinking
water supplies. It is an indisputable fact that the State has not tested the
chemicals administered to the public in drinking water or adhered to the
minimum requirements of EU legislation for protection of public health or the
environment. Incredible the people of Ireland are led to believe without any
supporting evidence that the policy is safe and effective for all sectors of
society. This approach represents scientific fraud and misconduct of the
highest order and should not be tolerated by any society. It is a
unquestionable fact that water fluoridation is using untested, unapproved,
uncontrolled and unsanitary industrial chemicals to medicate populations in a
manner that is illegal and unethical.
My review can be downloaded for free
for public benefit from http://enviro.ie/risk.html
Declan Waugh
Risk Management, Environmental
Auditor and Environmental Consultant
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