| Letters to the
Editor - Moralee Champion, 19th Feb 2004. Fluoride follies
What an
extraordinary letter on fluoridation by Dr Puxtey, (Moree
Champion, February 12).
History can be
forgotten or hidden, but never expunged from
records, such as the disgusting and dishonest push
for fluoridation of Moree water supplies by
so-called professional people representing the NSW
government health department.
Copies of 1998
editions of the Moree Champion disclose
dishonest actions by people in responsible
positions, misleading Moree council and people.
NSW Cancer Centre
senior officer Dr Joyce Ford presented extreme
misinformation in person to Moree council, telling
it that CSIRO scientists in Adelaide had researched
fluoridation and found it did not cause cancer.
Our investigation
into the CSIRO discovered Dr Ford's message and
claims to Moree council were false and that no such
research had been done and was not even suggested by
the CSIRO for the future (outlined in an official
letter from the head of the CSIRO). Now we have a
doctor using the NH&MRC as a prop to support a
message that fluoridation will "decrease dental
decay by 40 to 50 percent and is safe".
The NH&MRC cannot
produce any scientific proof of fluoridation being
safe for humans. The reality is the NH&MRC in their
publication stated "with the inherent limitations of
the data it is difficult to quantify this effect
(fluoridation) precisely".
However, in 1991
the NH&MRC book The Effectiveness of Water
Fluoridation, states: "Nevertheless, it is estimated
(fluoridation) to confer an approximate 20 to 40
percent reduction in contemporary western
populations, including Australia, the reduction in
caries in permanent teeth in children is likely to
be toward the lower end of the scale".
Fluoridation
research on behalf of the UK Government at York
University in 2000 found that 15 percent recorded
improvement but qualified that statement by saving
the quality of research was very poor.
The NH&MRC state
that "it is a matter of concern that the Working
Group (NHMRC) cannot point to a single ongoing
Australian study which monitors adequately the
impact and possible adverse consequences of this
policy (fluoridation)".
"It is necessary to
establish a much more detailed and higher-quality
data base for the purpose of monitoring the trend in
mental health in Australia." "
So claims of
fluoridation effectiveness by Dr Puxty do not have
scientific credibility, together with the fact that
there is no scientific proof of safety.
In the Moree
Champion, September 15, 1988, it was reported 96
percent of the people of Pallamallawa voted to
remove fluoridation. At that meeting I debated
fluoridation against NSW government senior dental
officer Dr Allan Patterson.
Out of 113
registered local people who voted, 112 voted to
immediately stop the fluoridation of their drinking
water. This overwhelming defeat of fluoridation
resulted in an admission from the Minister for
Health. Mr Collins, altering the Fluoridation Act
and increasing the penalty of not complying to
$5000, an action further from people's democratic
choice.
Another clause also
stated that The removal of a fluoridation plant must
first obtain permission from the Secretary of
Health".
In other words -
fluoridation plants are protected from community
action.
A perfect
description of the fluoridation promoters: Those who
know the least know it in the loudest manner".
Glen Walker
Brighton, VIC
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