Return of fluoride debate

11:12am Wednesday 13th February 2008

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ONE of the most controversial issues in Andover's history could be about to hit the headlines once again after health minister Alan Johnson called for fluoride to be added to England's public water supply.

In the 1950s the idea caused mass protest and led to major political changes on the borough council in Andover. Now local campaigners say they will fight just as hard to keep the chemical mass medication at bay.

Margaret Reichlin, from Enham, says that to add it to water today would be even more worrying than it would have been 50 years ago.

"Our water today is very different to that of 50 years ago because of the number of pharmaceutical chemicals that are now being found - some of which have caused male fish to change sex," she said.

"Now we are thinking of adding an extra chemical to this cocktail.

She said there was no valid science to back up the use of the chemical and that many people in the US, where it is used in the majority of water supplies, worry about its use.

The minister however said use of the chemical was a proven way of improving dental health although he stressed he wants a debate at local level before any such measures are carried out.

At present only about 10 per cent of England's water is fluoridated. Its use is mainly in deprived areas where there is greater concern about poor child dental health.