An action group against fluoridating water is accusing the Hawke's Bay District Health Board of misinforming Central Hawke's Bay residents on a suggested link to bone cancer.
The board has since clarified information it supplied promoting the benefits of fluoridating water, information that the Fluoride Action Network NZ spokeswoman Mary Byrne
says was misleading in that it sourced two "studies" that had not been published.
"It shows the health board is blase about checking its information," Ms Byrne said.
"We feel people should be given the truth, especially when it comes from the health board. What we are talking about here is bone cancer in young men and I would say most would prefer to risk dental decay than bone cancer."
Board medical officer of health Caroline McElnay said the DHB took its responsibility for disease prevention seriously and had since clarified the source.
The original information supplied to residents cited two "studies" that "continue to find no clear association" between fluoride and primary bone cancer. Ms Byrne says no such studies were ever printed. However, published studies in 2006 by a PhD student had cited a link. The DHB has since amended the information to refer to "unpublished analysis".
Mrs McElnay also pointed out that there had been four cases of primary bone cancer in Hawke's Bay among people under 25, and none lived in Central Hawke's Bay, which has had fluoridated drinking water since 1979.
Residents are being asked to consider whether the CHB District Council should continue the water treatment by building a new fluoridation plant, replacing the one which has been operating for 30 years. The council has provided information, with reasons "for", coming from the health board, and "against", coming from the network. The council will consider survey results and submissions and make a decision in November.
