As much as I would like to let Clayton Mitchell's comments re water fluoridation pass (The Weekend Sun, March 16) the issue is too important. The facts are water fluoridation is a safe, effective and beneficial public health intervention of equal value to the New Zealand community as vaccinations, seatbelt legislation and sanitation. Water fluoridation does not cause a lowering of children's IQ, fluoride does work and water fluoridation is not 'bad for you”.
I was a member of the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council Review Committee (2015-2017) on Water Fluoridation: Dental and Other Health Outcomes, which was an exhaustive and substantive investigation of the scientific evidence and human health effects of water fluoridation. The committee found reliable evidence that community water fluoridation at current Australian levels (the same as New Zealand) is not associated with cancer, Down syndrome, cognitive dysfunction, lowered intelligence or hip fracture.
I encourage Mr Mitchell to read the scientific literature available, including both the Royal Society of New Zealand, Health effects of water fluoridation: A review of the scientific evidence, August 2014, and the evidence from the investigation cited above.
The New Zealand community deserves to be led by science in matters of public health and not by a political agenda which weakens the nation's commitment to improving health and oral health.
F Wright, Sydney, former chief advisor, oral health with the New Zealand Ministry of Health (Abridged).
5 comments
clayton mitchell
Posted on 06-04-2018 11:04 | By phoenix
Mr wright you are using safe,effective and beneficial,in the same sentence as clayton mitchell. Big Mistake.
Science should just advise.
Posted on 06-04-2018 22:52 | By Gus McTavish
The NZ people should make there own individual minds up on what is best for themselves after scientific advise ! .... Advise!...... not to be "led by Science" which kind of sounds like controlled/ dictated or mandated to by science or health organisations......science does not know everything and always should be challenged , which it has been at times. I mean science has made quite a few boo boos in history......just do some research.... .That's why we have the NZ individual human Rights act, so we can have the freedom to choice ....we have informed consent......We are all different as to were we sit on the bell curve......So Freedom of choice is everything.......we wouldn't want to erode / undermine THE RIGHTS OF THE INDIVIDUAL WOULD WE ...written in NZ law !!...
No thanks
Posted on 07-04-2018 12:23 | By Captain Sensible
The fluoride that is put in drinking water is in the exact same form as what the Nazis put in prisoner's drinking water....keeps them subdued and docile......just as councils and govt want their citizens. Shame on these fans of mass medication and their socialist regimes.
Good advice - read the scientific literature available
Posted on 08-04-2018 10:21 | By Ken Perrott
Calton may wish to make a joke in response to this article but he shoiuld seriously take its addictive - read the scientific literature available.Clayton's mistake has been to rely on people like Paul Connett who are well known for misrepresenting and distorting the science related to fluoride and community water fluoridation. He should try checking out the actual studies cited for himself - and read more widely.
whether it's beneficial or not
Posted on 09-04-2018 08:50 | By Mein Fuhrer
it should not be FORCED on to the general population. If you want fluoride go get some fluoride toothpaste or tablets which is usually in the form of Calcium Fluoride not Hydrofluorisilic Acid that they put in the water supply. As a free thinking individual residing on planet earth I am free to decide what I want to put in MY BODY.
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