More research urged into fluoridation programmes

More research must take place to the benefits and risks of fluoridation programmes, an expert body has urged.

The Chartered Institution of Water and Environmental Management (CIWEM) has called for the science, ethics and legality of the fluoridation of public water to be further researched.

It warned that much water contains a natural dosage of fluoride and suggests this too should be monitored to allow dosing control if necessary.

“All benefits of fluoridation programmes must be considered in the context of wider public health provision and that people should have the freedom to choose how they meet their dental care needs,” the CIWEM noted.

The institution’s executive director Nick Reeves said it is a complicated issue and highlights concerns over the government’s power to “impose mass medication” on the public.

However, a spokesman for National Pure Water Association warned that fluoridation is a violation of water consumers’ human rights as it prevents their refusing medical intervention.