FIND PRESS RELEASE ON TODAY'S KAPITI COAST DISTRICT COUNCIL DECISION ON WATER FLUORIDATION 5th MAY, 2014

The Kapiti councillors appeared to have serious reservations about water fluoridation after hearing submissions from both sides (with at least one of them stating he will be drinking unfluoridated water but will vote for the status quo), but have defaulted to the health department policy as the authoritative body charged with looking after our health.

I don't see the health department advising citizens that the daily limit for long term fluoride ingestion from all sources combined, including water, food and toothpaste, is 0.05mg/kg body weight/ day. This is exceeded by tens of thousands of NZ children on a daily basis, putting them at risk of avoidable health problems down the line.

Given the large amount of research indicating health concerns from the long term ingestion of fluoride, would it not be in the best interests of the community for the Precautionary Principle to apply and fluoridation stopped until there is unequivocal proof of safety, not continued until there is unequivocal proof of harm, particularly as cessation does not appear to result in increased tooth decay.

In my opinion the council has let its residents down.

Stan Litras BDS BSc

FIND (Fluoride Information Network for Dentists)

Wellington

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