MINISTER MARTIN MISLEADS DAIL ON ACID FLUORIDE   

Minister Martin recently misled the Dail in responding to a question from John Gormley T.D. On 21/3/2000, the Minister of Health was asked if, “chromium is present in hydrofluoslicic acid, the fluoridating agent imported from Holland used to facilitate fluoridation of drinking water?” Minister Martin replied that the acid fluoride “does not contain chromium”.

Fluoride Free Water has now acquired a full Chemical analysis of the acid fluoride, pumped into our drinking water at the rate of 2000 gallons daily. This analysis confirms our greatest fears, chromium is present and at similar levels as the arsenic also present. Minister Martin has misled the Dail and the Irish people. This is misinformation at best or possibly fraudulent if Minister Martin is aware of the contaminants of this hazardous product of the fertiliser industry.

It is a toxic cocktail! The chemical analysis also gives levels of nickel, sulphur, lead and aluminium. Please see enclosed analysis. According to the Irish Medicines Board, this hydrofluosilicic acid has never been proven safe or effective and not surprisingly is unregistered, unlicensed and not considered a medicine. So, what is it and why is it untested? Why are we drinking unmeasured, uncontrolled levels of this toxic cocktail without the freedom to make an informed choice? 

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Question for written Answer on 21/3/2000:

Dept: Health and Children     Minister answering: Minister Martin (Cork South-Central).

Order Nos:332

Ref Nos: 7610/00 Written. 

*To ask the Minister for Health and Children if chromium is present in hydrofluosilicic acid, the fluoridating agent imported from Holland used to facilitate fluoridation of drinking water; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

-         John Gormley T.D.

The fluoridating agent used to facilitate fluoridation of drinking water does not contain chromium.

Members of The Forum on Fluoridation continue to ‘lie’ and ‘mislead’ the Irish public on the real facts concerning water fluoridation.

On Sunday 26^th August TV3’s 20/20 will broadcast an edited version of its January 2001 programme ‘Hard to Swallow?’ – The Water Fluoridation Debate. In this programme we get an opportunity to see members of the Department of Health and Micheal Martins ‘hand picked’ Forum on Fluoridation attempt to deny the true facts on fluoridation and lie to the Irish public.

Despite internal Department of Health documents released under the Freedom of Information act stating that the fluoridating agent used in 73% of the Irish public’s water supply is ‘hydrofluosilicic acid’, a waste product from the superphosphate fertilizer industry, Dr. Moira O’Connor, author of the ‘Water Fluoridation and Public Health’ report from the Royal College of Physicians of Ireland, and member of the Fluoridation Forum, tells 20/20;

20/20 exposes this lie by showing the importers of this ‘hydrofluosilicic acid’, Albatros fertilizers!!! Green TD John Gormley discusses his uncovering of the fact that not just had this acid never been tested for safety on humans, but the Department of Health had not even tested it to establish the toxic chemical content. The Minister for Health had to apologise to John Gormley for initially stating that there was ‘no chromium’ in the acid;

If the Department of Health and members of the Forum cannot be believed about the origin of the fluoridating acid, how can we believe any other unsubstantiated claims?

Dr. O’Connor claims "there’s no evidence other than dental fluorosis that it causes any harm to peoples health." However Dr. Don Mac Auley discusses the growing international scientific evidence linking water fluoridation to hip fractures, bone cancer, irritable bowel syndrome, and decreased fertility, evidence that was strong enough for publication by the prestigious Irish Medical Journal.

Robert J.Carton, PhD, former President of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Union, which publicly called for the halting of the water fluoridation programme in the US in 1997, tells 20/20;

Two prominent members of the Forum on Fluoridation cannot even get their story straight on the level of dental fluorosis (structural damage to teeth caused by water fluoridation) present in the Irish population. Chief Dental Officer of the Department of Health, Dr. Gerard Gavin tells 20/20 "Our latest research would show that our levels of fluorosis… …we have about 6% very mild, and about 4% mild from our latest studies."

When it is pointed out to Dr. Gavin that fellow Forum member Professor O’Mullane is on the record as saying "We find that approximately 50% of the population who reside in fluoridated communities have this very mild, very questionable change in the appearance in the enamel", Dr. Gavin states "I think Professor O’Mullane has corrected that quotation. That’s a misquote." Further investigation by 20/20 sees Professor O’Mullane agree that he did in fact make this statement, and it is therefore not a misquote.

MINISTER APOLOGISES FOR MISLEADING DAIL ON ACID FLUORIDE.

Dail Debates Official Report - 26-10-00

CLICK LINK:

598. Mr. Gormley asked the Minister for Health and Children further to Parliamentary Question No. 332 of 21 March 2000, the reason he stated there was no chromium contained in hydrofluosilicic acid. [24676/00]

Minister for Health and Children (Mr. Martin): In my response to the Deputy's Parliamentary Question of 21 March 2000 I stated that chromium was not present in the hydrofluosilicic acid used for the fluoridation of public water supplies.

My reply was based on an independent laboratory analysis of hydrofluosilicic acid carried out for the Eastern Regional Health Authority, the contract holder for the supply of the substance. However, this analysis did not, apparently, include analysis for the presence of chromium. Accordingly, the laboratory report did not list the presence of chromium and my officials concluded from this report that chromium was not present. If an analysis had been conducted for chromium it is possible that trace levels of the substance might have been found. These levels would be insignificant to public health. I have asked the Eastern Regional Health Authority to extend the range of substances tested for in the course of routine independent laboratory analysis to include chromium.

I apologise to the Deputy for the unsatisfactory nature of the previous reply and I trust that I have now clarified the position to the satisfaction of the Deputy and the House.

Question No. 599 taken with Question No. 111.