2022-05-10

This Bill was granted Royal Assent on 28th April 2022.

2021-08-10

Health and Care Bill: water fluoridation

A Policy Paper published on 19th July "explains how the government plans to transfer responsibility for water fluoridation from local authorities to the Secretary of State".

"The World Health Organization recommends a maximum level of 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per litre of water (mg/l)"

"The Water Industry Act will maintain the duty on the Secretary of State to monitor and report on the effects of water fluoridation every 4 years"

"... the purpose of the water fluoridation clauses in the Bill is to give Secretary of State the power to directly introduce, vary or terminate water fluoridation schemes"

Fluorine of course is a member of the halogen family (fluorine chlorine bromine iodine) and possesses chemical properties similar to the other members of the same family. So it is possible for fluorine to replace iodine in the thyroid hormones T3 and T4, compromising their function.

It is unclear why the government is giving priority to this change, which in the scale of matters medical doesn't seem to bring more than a marginal benefit; although no doubt it is seen by some as a tidying up of the responsibilities, which currently lie at a local government level.

Whatever the reasoning, it seems unlikely that this move will lead to any lessening of provision of fluoridated water in the UK over time. An extension of mass medication is clearly indicated.

Why am I not reassured?