UK - Letter from Ann in the Halifax Courier

Fluoride debate: the risk to babies
Dulverton Road,Ruislip,Middlesex.
FURTHER to Barbara Sutcliffe's letter about fluoridation ("How can chemical killer also grow plants?" (Your say, October 16) I thought I should mention a new concern on fluoridation.On its website the American Dental Association recommends that baby milk powder should not be made up using artificially fluoridated water. Instead of using tap water with fluoride added the ADA guidelines are to buy a brand of ready-mixed baby formula which contains little or no fluoride or for parents to buy bottled water with a fluoride content as low as possible to make up feeds.Visit: www.ada.org and type in "infant formula". The ADA states that fluoride should not be given to a child under a year old. Paediatric dentist Dr Howard Needleman said that too much fluoride when teeth are being formed can damage tooth enamel and cause unslightly tooth mottling called fluorosis.The National Pure Water
Assoc-iation's Watershed for autumn 2007 reports that the British Fluoridation Society's chairman, Professor Michael Lennon, whose task is to promote fluoridation, has written a briefing document which also says that bottled water should be used to make up feeds to ensure babies don't receive too much fluoride.To protect babies breast milk is extremely low in fluoride. It would be an added expense for parents to have to buy bottled water for feeds. Also all those additional plastic bottles are not good for the environment.The cracks are appearing in the "fluoride is a wonder chemical" promotion. It would be best for fluoride not to be added to water supplies.The fluoride added is fluorosilicic acid waste from phosphate fertiliser factories. It is linked to allergies and health problems.Not enough parents are not being told of the new thinking on this.A. Wills