Fluoride levels in water supply to be cut over fluorosis fear

New legislation: New legislation to reduce the level of fluoride added to the public water supply may be introduced by the Department of Health in late summer, The Irish Times has learned.

A senior department official said this was being dealt with as a matter of urgency and it was hoped that the necessary legislation could be brought forward in late summer or early autumn.

In 2002, the Government-appointed Forum on Fluoridation recommended that the level of fluoride added to water be reduced from the present level of 0.8-1 ppm (part per million) to 0.6-0.8 ppm.

Fluoride has been added to the public water supply since the early 1960s, following research that showed tooth decay in young children was lower in areas where drinking water contained natural levels of fluoride.

However, too much fluoride can cause dental fluorosis, seen as white lines and spots on teeth.

Last year, a report by University College Cork's Dental School advised parents to stop children below the age of two using toothpaste because of the risk of fluorosis.

It also advised the close monitoring of children's tooth-brushing habits to ensure they do not use too much toothpaste and do not swallow it.

David Moloney, principal officer in the Department of Health's dental section, said new statutory instruments were required to reduce the level of fluoride added to water.

He said an expert body, appointed last April, was looking at the best way of implementing this and other recommendations.

The Irish Dentists Opposing Fluoridation (IDOF) group has warned that a "compensation timebomb" is ticking on this issue.

Two parents who claim their child's teeth were damaged by fluoride in water have begun an action against the Attorney General, the Minister for Health, a county council and a local health authority. The case is expected to be heard within the next six to 12 months.

Yesterday Dr Don McAuley, chairman of the IDOF group, criticised the Minister for Health Mary Harney and the Department of Health for its lack of action in combating dental fluorosis in children.

Dr McAuley said the Republic, which had been adding fluoride to water since the 1960s, now had three times more fluorosis than Northern Ireland which did not add fluoride to water.

"Since 1960, we have been swallowing uncontrolled and unmonitored levels of fluoride through our tap water. Especially at risk are bottle-feeding infants who, because of their small size, are consuming unsafe levels of fluoride in formula feed made up with tap water," he said.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland has advised against using bottled water to make up infant formula as mineral water may have a high salt content.

The Irish Dental Association (IDA), which represents about 1,400 dentists, said it supported the fluoridation of public water supplies.