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Government welcomes new report on water fluoridation

  • Published date:
    4 September 2002

PublicHealth Minister, Hazel Blears, today welcomed the publication of a report on the research required to strengthen the evidence base on the fluoridation of water. The report, which is published today, was carried out by a working group set up by the Medical Research Council.

The MRC report follows on the systemic review of research on fluoridation published by the University of York in September 2000. The Working Group also considered some concerns that have been expressed about the safety of fluoridation and sought to identify which of these have a plausible scientific basis and what further research might be required.

The key findings and recommendations include:

  • support for the findings of the earlier study by the University of York that fluoridating water helps to reduce tooth decay
  • the majority of research indicates that water fluoridation reduces inequalities in dental decay between high and low social groups
  • further studies should be undertaken to determine the prevalence dental fluorosis and the public's perception of dental fluorosis with particular attention to acceptable and aesthetically unacceptable fluorosis.
  • the MRC working group did not consider that the evidence supported claims that fluoridated water affects the immune system, the reproductive system, child development, the kidneys or the gastro-intestinal tract. Consequently they have not recommended any further research in these areas.

One of the MRC working group's main recommendations is that a comparison be made between the amount of fluoride the body absorbs from water supplies in which it occurs naturally and those to which it has been added artificially. In the past it has been assumed that absorption is similar from either source and that the health experience of residents of areas in which fluoride occurs naturally can be applied to those of areas in which drinking water is artificially fluoridated. Whilst the working group considered this assumption to be quite reasonable they recommended that it be confirmed.

Hazel Blears said:

"This report demonstrates once again that water flouridation is an important and effective method of protecting the population from tooth decay and reduces inequalities in dental health. We are taking immediate steps to commision a project on the absorption of fluoride as recommended by the MRC.

"There is nothing in this report to suggest any reason why water fluoridation should not be considered as a public health measure in areas where dental health remains a serious problem. I have today therefore asked the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson and the Chief Dental Officer, Dame Margaret Seward to advise on the implications of the report for government policy on fluoridation."

Notes to editor

  1. About half a million people in this country receive water which is naturally fluoridated at, or about, the optimum level of one part of fluoride per million of water. A further one million people received water which is naturally fluoridated at a lower level, but which still confers some dental benefit. These areas are generally found in a band running down the eastern side of the country, from Hartlepool in the north, down to parts of Essex.
  2. About 5 million people receive water where the fluoride content has been artificially increased to a level of one part per million. Major schemes are in operation in Birmingham and throughout the West Midlands, and also in Tyneside.
  3. Water fluoridation is governed by the Water Industry Act 1991. This gave health authorities the responsibility of deciding the need locally for fluoridation, and the duty of informing the public and consulting local authorities about any proposals to fluoridate local water supplies.
  4. In 1999/2000 the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination at the University of York carried out a systematic review of the evidence on fluoridation. Whilst they agreed that fluoridation reduced tooth decay and found no evidence of risks to overall health they were critical of the quality of the research available.
  5. The Government commissioned the Medical Research Council to consider what further research in this area might be required and what priorities should apply to inform public health policy in this area in 2000.
  6. The MRC report is available on their website www.mrc.ac.uk.
  7. For media enquiries please contact the DH Media Centre on 020 7210 5707 or 4860.
  • Contact:
    Press officer
  • Address:
    Media Centre, Department of Health
    Richmond House, 79 Whitehall
    London
    SW1A 2NL
  • Phone:
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    020 7210 5221

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