Letters to the Editor: Fluoride in our water

Should or shouldn't we have fluoride in our water supply? Photo/File

The topic of whether the Rotorua District Council should put fluoride in our water has been debated hotly in our letters section this month, here is a selection of the views.

Stuart Mathieson, Dunedin

I see the usual crank misinformation against fluoridation is being circulated in the Rotorua debate.

Trust your local health officials. Investigation of the prominent antis reveals a number of weird anti-science opinions.

In aqueous solution at the concentrations recommended, .07 parts per million, the fluoride is in the form of dissociated ions and is at the strength of many naturally occurring concentrations and even weaker than others.

Fluoride has occurred naturally in many older continental land masses since the beginning of this planet. The problem with relatively young volcanic archipelagoes like New Zealand is they lack many useful and even essential trace elements. Iodine and selenium for example. Polynesians traditionally ingested sufficient fluoride from a diet rich in sea food. Delivery via tap water is a proven, safe, economical alternative.

MC FORSTER, Rotorua:

I see the fluoride debate has raised its head for the umpteenth time. I see no point in putting it in the water which the targeted people do not drink. Might I suggest that Coca Cola Amatil (NZ) Limited be approached to include it in their beverage.

JOY MASKELL, Hamurana:

If the fluoride added to drinking water is safe as stated by the Ministry of Health "Spelling out case for fluoridated water" (Rotorua Daily Post, June 21) and yet contains trace toxic metals, including lead (acknowledged by the Ministry of Health), then why are there warnings about lead paint on old houses? Why was lead removed from petrol?

Lead accumulates in the body and according to current scientific literature there is no safe level of lead especially for children. See "Very low lead exposures and children's neurodevelopment" Bellinger, David C, in the Current Opinion in Pediatrics 2008.

ANITA STANLEY, Rotorua:

Will our cattle benefit from this poison in the water? Will the consumers of our export meat enjoy knowing the cattle have drunk this poison? Our free range hens, the eggs they produce, all contaminated if the water is loaded with fluoride.
If parents want to give it to the family, let them buy the tablets. I do not want more chemicals introduced into my life.