TOPIC:

hmmm ....

not so sure that the last link adds anything much in terms of facts to the debate to be honest. (and Germany permits fluoride to enter the food chain in other ways - salt for example)

As for the ethics of mass medication, well Swansea is facing a potentially dangerous measles epidemic due to parents opting out of the MMR vaccine:

[url:1cdwtsmz]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-22258153[/url:1cdwtsmz].

(The whole MMR debate is interesting with parents in the unenviable postion of having to choose between the proven benefits of vaccination in preventing measles versus concerns over possible links to authisim etc.)

Personally, I haven't made up my mind on wether or not fluoride should be removed from drinking supplies. However, the benefits relating to dental hygene are generaly accepted by all sides, so I'd like to see more 'hard' data on why it should be removed.

Not sure what the subject has to do with MMR but as we're at it here's an article about a cat...
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="www.catoftheday.com/">www.catoftheday.com/

Re: salt, I don't think many people have a problem with fluoride in salt as at least it it labelled and measurable. This is not the case with water.
The artificial fluoride Ireland uses in its water is Hydrofluorosilicic acid which is made up of arsenic, aluminum, lead and mercury. I definitely would like to have that labelled on my craft beer. Irrespective of how it benefits my teeth the fact that we are ingesting it is another matter entirely: as it hardens teeth, it also demonstrably hardens soft internal tissue as well.

There are plenty of articles out there on fluoride and, really, my main point is just that as craft beer lovers who might be more inclined to look into ingredients should we not include Hydrofluorosilicic acid as an added ingredient?


The full- on fluoride debate is probably for a different site altogether but here's a couple of links should you be interested in that side of things...
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="www.endirishwaterfluoridation.com/">www.endirishwaterfluoridation.com/

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="www.hotpress.com/news/Harvard-Professor-...luoride/9696932.html">www.hotpress.com/news/Harvard-Pr ... 96932.html

Cheers for the reply!

&amp;quot;Dr. D&amp;quot;:ybskdfs6 wrote: The whole MMR debate is interesting with parents in the unenviable postion of having to choose between the proven benefits of vaccination in preventing measles versus concerns over possible links to authisim etc.)[/quote:ybskdfs6]

The solution is (was) simple. The possible link was due to the triple vaccination; I spoke to our family doctor and got each vaccination separately (over 6 months). He agreed it was a sensible precaution.

&amp;quot;agnosticdave&amp;quot;:174r8f8f wrote: Hydrofluorosilicic acid[/quote:174r8f8f] <!-- s:shock: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_eek.gif" alt=":shock:" title="Shocked" /><!-- s:shock: --> Dihydrogen Monoxide KILLS[/url:174r8f8f]!

By the same rationale of listing the fluoridation as an ingredient, would the chemicals involved in chlorination, Burtonisation and sanitation need to be listed too?

&amp;quot;agnosticdave&amp;quot;:ir93htjm wrote: Not sure what the subject has to do with MMR [/quote:ir93htjm]

... related to your link's questioning the ethics of mass medication (as a reason not to add fluroide), and intended to illustrate the benefits of mass medication. IMO, some of those lobbying against either may be guilty of equating research indicating [i:ir93htjm]possible[/i:ir93htjm] negative side-effects to [i:ir93htjm]proven[/i:ir93htjm] negative side effects.

But I take your point - its a subject worthy of wider debate.

&amp;quot;agnosticdave&amp;quot;:1vrkgge8 wrote: The artificial fluoride Ireland uses in its water is Hydrofluorosilicic acid which is made up of arsenic, aluminum, lead and mercury.
[/quote:1vrkgge8]

"Made up of"? Really? I am not a qualified chemist but this is not true. It may be possible to detect such trace elements in samples of Irish tap water, but I suggest it may also be detectable in small amounts in the tap water from countries that do not flouridate.
Anyway, the "flouridation debate" (as already said) is best left for other forums.

Now has anyone noticed the taste of sulphites in some wines? Now that's one that annoys me! (also for other forums!)