Dental and medical authorities claim that forcing everyone to drink fluoridated water is the most effective way to reduce childhood tooth decay.

Consider the principle involved here. Wouldn't adding Prozac to drinking water be the most effective way to help those who are also depressed not having to remember to take their tablets?

Wouldn't contraceptives in the water be the best way to prevent teenage pregnancies? Expect a mass rally with banners outside York Waterworks.

Some people already have potentially damaging levels of fluoride from past exposure to air pollution, pharmaceuticals, dental treatment, food and beverages.

Some athletes and diabetics drink more than others. Some with allergies, kidney patients, premature babies and foetuses have low tolerance of poisons.

Studies on teeth tell us nothing about the effect of fluoride on the digestive, musculo-skeletal, endorcrine, immune, reproductive and nervous systems of the body - all of which are important. Why have so many American cities stopped putting fluoride in water? Are dental costs per head of the population higher - as reported to MPs last week recently - in the fluoridated Birmingham than in non-fluoridated Bradford?

An independent public inquiry is needed to evaluate world-wide research into these issues.

Elizabeth A McDonagh,

Melton Brand Farm,

Doncaster.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.