The Isle of Man DHSS is to conduct a random telephone poll during the first week of May
2008 to gauge public opinion on the matter of artificial water fluoridation. This
follows a 5-year campaign by the DHSS Public Health Directorate on the issue.
It is expected that the DHSS will ask the following questions: -
Q1. Do you think tooth decay rates on the Isle of Man are above the
average UK level, below it, or about the same?
Q2. In fact tooth decay levels on the Isle of Man are considerably higher than the average UK level. In many developed countries, and in some parts of the UK, fluoride is added to the water supply to reduce the levels of tooth decay. Would you favour or oppose fluoride being added to the water in the Isle of Man?
Q3. Record respondent gender.
Q4. What was your age last birthday?
Q5. Are there any children under 16 living in your household?
We feel that the DHSS Public Health Directorate have been and continue to be extremely biased
in their information, giving you, the Manx public, only one side of the issue
– the pro-fluoridation side.
The DHSS has already spent a great deal of time, money and effort in trying to persuade you, and your elected representatives, that fluoridation is good for you! No poll can be unbiased if only one view – the pro-fluoridation one - has been promoted to the public. Before any poll or vote can be held, the balance must be restored, and the valid objections and concerns regarding the dangers of fluoridation explained to the public
NB The organisation tasked and funded by the
British Government to promote fluoridation in the British Isles is the British
Fluoridation Society Limited. The Isle of Man Public Health Directorate is a corporate
member of this organization and Dr. Emerson who has spearheaded the campaign has
himself until very recently been a personal member of the British Fluoridation
Society Limited.
Please click here
to read the Mission Statement of the B.F.S. Ltd and you will recognize the tactics,
which are being employed against the people of the Isle of Man.
It will then be clear to you why, when we as private individuals approached DHSS
Minister Eddie Teare MHK for financial assistance in challenging Dr Emerson's
assertion that "fluoridation is safe and benefits everyone", we were
flatly refused.
Be aware that only about 10% of the UK is fluoridated
and that almost every European country has either rejected or banned fluoridation.
The IOM D.A.F.F. Minister Phil Gawne MHK recently stated that his Department "sees
no benefits to livestock from the fluoridation of water" and " the Department
would prefer alternative methods for delivery of fluoride to that part of the
human population at risk, be explored" * -
ask yourself this question, if fluoridation is not deemed good enough for animals
then why should we be subjected to it?
Another question is - will children who eat too many sweets and who drink too
many sugary drinks begin drinking water just because the DHSS have fluoridated
it?
Fluoridation is neither safe nor effective. It is linked to many adverse effects
and has not been shown by ANY high quality studies to significantly reduce tooth
decay. The most obvious adverse effect is dental fluorosis. Proponents do not
deny that fluoride will cause fluorosis but they do try to dismiss the condition
as a minor ‘cosmetic effect’. The Isle of Man Public Health Directorate
is guilty of this.
What is dental Fluorosis?
Dental Fluorosis manifests itself as mottled, pitted and/or stained teeth (see
image below). If someone exhibits dental fluorosis, the person’s teeth
have been damaged by too much fluoride. Dental fluorosis is a sign of ‘fluoride
poisoning’.
"We accept that dental fluorosis is a manifestation of systemic toxicity...".Baroness
Hayman - Hansard, 20 Apr 1999 : WA 158.
The UK Government-funded review of water fluoridation – the York Review
(2000), found that 48% of those receiving fluoridated water would suffer dental
fluorosis and 12.5% of recipients would suffer dental fluorosis of ‘aesthetic
concern’ i.e. would require treatment via cosmetic dentistry.
People that require veneers or crowns on their teeth to ‘cover up’
dental fluorosis are in for a lifetime of expensive cosmetic dentistry. Dental
veneers cost between £200 - £1,200 per
tooth*
Veneers are not to be made available on the NHS, so you will be required to pay
for the treatment out of your own pocket. The private dentists will make money
on this treatment as will the government by way of VAT and other taxes.
We would like to detail some of the statements/information on dental fluorosis
over the past few years from the IOM DHSS, including Dr Emerson who has led
the campaign for fluoridation: -
IOM DHSS Public Health Directorate – ‘Water
Fluoridation and Children’ leaflet: -
Q Are there risks to children?
A Some young children drinking fluoridated water while their teeth are forming
may develop white spots on their teeth. This is called ‘dental fluorosis’.
The DHSS Community Dental Service leaflet entitled
‘Dental Health Advice’ A recommendation to readers to “support
the introduction of optimally fluoridated water on the Isle of Man” is made,
yet no mention whatsoever of the side effect dental fluorosis.
Dr Emerson’s (Consultant in Public Health,
IOM DHSS) statements on dental Fluorosis: -
“From a public health viewpoint, the benefits from preventing dental caries
far outweigh the very small risk of fluorosis” –
Examiner July 2004.
“The type of fluorosis produced by water fluoridation at one part per million
is almost undetectable to the untrained eye” –
IOMONLINE May 2003
Dr Emerson’s various comments made during Manx
Radio’s Sunday Opinion & Mannin Line programmes 30.09.2007: -
“the only known adverse effect is fluorosis” “fluorosis is
cosmetic…very, very mild, which even members of the public can’t
detect”
“the concentration of the fluoride is so low that it is no way can be
toxic to animals or people” “a small risk of fluorosis”
“it is such a small issue across a population…this is over hyped,
overstated, scare mongering, again dental fluorosis is a very, very small public
health issue”
“we don’t give out information that is not true”
Please find below some images of varying degrees
of dental fluorosis. All of which
can be expected to be seen as a consequence if fluorosilicic acid is added to
our drinking water supply. You decide if Dr Emerson and the DHSS have been accurate
in their description of the condition.
We appeal to the Manx public for funds in order to
combat the information coming out of the DHSS. We intend to use any such funding
in the promotion of this website, the production and distribution of full colour
leaflets depicting dental fluorosis in order that the Manx people can be fully
appraised of the consequence of fluoridation of YOUR WATER.
If you can help with a donation, large or small,
please click on the secure 'donate' button at the top of this screen or send a cheque made payable to 'Save Our Water' to us at:
IOM Campaign for non-Fluoridated Tap Water
11 Parliament Street, Ramsey, Isle of Man
British Isles, IM8 1AS
