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Four representatives of NPWA’s Executive Committee joined Hampshire Against Fluoridation's demonstration at South Central Strategic Health Authority's offices in Newbury to present the Authority with the Open Letter below. The letter was backed by more than 170 signatories including Members of the House of Lords, MPs of all parties, councillors, scientists and dental and other professionals and these are listed below the Open Letter. HAF member Anna Peckham had previously written to the Chairman of the 12-strong SHA Board but was told he would be unavailable to receive the document. It had to be left with a receptionist.
To the Board of South Central Strategic Health Authority Dear Board Member, It is exactly one year since you took the unanimous decision to implement a scheme to fluoridate the public water supply of Southampton, Eastleigh, Totton and surrounding areas. The decision on 26th February 2009 was taken despite widespread opposition from local people with 72% of Public Consultation respondents rejecting the proposal (The Evidence Centre, Independent Summary of Responses to the Public Consultation, February 2009). During the past year, local opposition to the scheme has grown, a 15,300 signature petition has been handed in to Downing Street and EVERY local MP has since written to the Strategic Health Authority to express concern at your continuing determination to impose fluoridation on an unwilling community. Hampshire County Council, Eastleigh Borough Council, Test Valley and New Forest Councils all rejected the proposal and there have been a number of previously supportive Southampton City Councillors who have since expressed concern about the decision. The most recent NHS dental survey report published in October 2009, showed a decrease in levels of dental decay amongst the city’s five-year-olds and an increase in the number of five-year-olds without any tooth decay (NHS Dental Epidemiology Programme for England, Oral Health Survey of 5 year old Children 2007/2008). Encouragingly, this means that decay rates in Southampton for five-year-olds are similar to the English average and are below levels recorded in 2001. In order to maintain this improvement, we urge you to ensure that the local NHS places greater emphasis on the implementation of targeted community-based oral health strategies as an alternative to water fluoridation. An important peer reviewed study published recently in the Journal of the American Dental Association confirms previous research showing that infants fed formula milk in areas where the water is fluoridated at 1.0 ppm may receive excess fluoride putting them at risk of fluorosis (Siew, C et al., J Am Dent Assoc 2009; 140: 1228-1236). The authors conclude that “When powdered or liquid concentrate infant formulas are the primary source of nutrition, some infants are likely to exceed the recommended fluoride upper limit if the formula is reconstituted with water containing 1.0 ppm fluoride”. Indeed, the American Dental Association recommends that formula milk is reconstituted with fluoride-free water in order to reduce the risk of fluorosis (http://www.fluoridealert.org/scher/ada.egram-2006.pdf). We believe that on this evidence alone, it would be irresponsible to proceed with a scheme which may result in some babies exceeding the recommended fluoride upper limit. Given the financial constraints currently faced by the NHS, we are concerned that precious NHS funds are being used to force through a scheme that the local community does not want. These funds could be better used to develop alternative, more effective oral health schemes. The SHA’s decision to continue with water fluoridation and to fight a legal challenge is seen as a waste of Health Service money and we are concerned that this will damage the reputation of the local NHS. In the light of these facts, we strongly urge you to reconsider your decision. Full List of Signatories Politicians Chris Huhne MP for Eastleigh Dr Julian Lewis MP for New Forest East Sandra Gidley MP for Romsey Desmond Swayne MP for New Forest West Dr Caroline Lucas MEP for South East. Brian Donohoe MP, Joint Chair All Party Parliamentary Group Against Fluoridation Lord Stoddart of Swindon, All Party Parliamentary Group Against Fluoridation Lord Baldwin of Bewley, Joint Chair All Party Parliamentary Group Against Fluoridation Cllr Royston Smith, Deputy Leader of Southampton City Council and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (Conservative) for Southampton Itchen Cllr Jeremy Moulton, Southampton City Council and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (Conservative) for Southampton Test Cllr Neil Fitzgerald, Southampton City Council Cllr John Hannides, Southampton City Council Cllr Don Thomas, Southampton City Council Cllr Derek Burke, Southampton City Council Cllr Matt Jones, Southampton City Council Cllr Edward Daunt, Southampton City Council Cllr Gerry Drake, Southampton City Council Cllr Paul Holmes, Cabinet Member for Children's Services Southampton City Council, Cllr Peter Galton, Southampton City Council Cllr Edwina Cooke, Chair of the Healthy City Scrutiny Panel, Southampton City Council Cllr Alison Finlay, Test Valley Borough Council Cllr Alan Dowden, Test Valley Borough Council, Hampshire County Council Cllr Celia Dowden, Test Valley Borough Council Cllr Len Gates, Test Valley Borough Council Cllr Marion Kerley, Test Valley Borough Council Cllr Keith House, Leader, Eastleigh Borough Council, On behalf of Eastleigh Borough Council Cllr David Goodall, Eastleigh Borough Council and Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (Liberal Democrat) for Southampton Itchen Cllr Ken Thornber, CBE, Leader, Hampshire County Council, On behalf of Hampshire County Council Cllr Anna McNair-Scott, Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Hampshire County Council Cllr A Roling, Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council Cllr R Kyrle, Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council Cllr K Mans, Hampshire County Council Cllr B Dash, Hampshire County Council Cllr R Perry, Hampshire County Council Cllr P Dickens, Hampshire County Council Cllr F Hindson, Hampshire County Council Cllr S James, Hampshire County Council Cllr F Pearce, Hampshire County Council Cllr K Evans, Hampshire County Council Cllr R Hussey, Hampshire County Council Cllr B Tennent, Hampshire County Council Cllr J Porter, Hampshire County Council Cllr P Mutton, Hampshire County Council and Test Valley Borough Council Cllr M Tucker, Hampshire County Council Cllr R Muschamp, Hampshire County Council Cllr E Heron, Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council Cllr A Buckley, Hampshire County Council Cllr J Wall, Hampshire County Council Cllr C Leversha, Hampshire County Council Cllr P West, Hampshire County Council Cllr S Payne, Hampshire County Council Cllr C Thomas, Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council Cllr C Davidovitz, Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council Cllr B Gurden, Hampshire County Council Cllr S Reid, Hampshire County Council Cllr M Geddes, Hampshire County Council Cllr L Fairhurst, Hampshire County Council Cllr S Wheale, Hampshire County Council Cllr P Mason, Hampshire County Council Cllr C Bailey, Hampshire County Council Cllr A McEvoy, Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council Cllr I Beagley, Hampshire County Council Cllr R McIntosh, Hampshire County Council Cllr R Price, Hampshire County Council Cllr A Collett, Hampshire County Council Cllr A Carew, Hampshire County Council Cllr J Radley, Hampshire County Council Cllr D Keast, Hampshire County Council Cllr A Joy, Hampshire County Council Cllr T Knight, Hampshire County Council Cllr A Broadhurst, Hampshire County Council and Eastleigh Borough Council Cllr D Kirk, Hampshire County Council Cllr G Hockley, Hampshire County Council Cllr A Weeks, Hampshire County Council, Totton Town Council and New Forest District Council Cllr D Simpson, Hampshire County Council Cllr D Harrison, Hampshire County Council , Totton Town Council and New Forest District Council Cllr S Woodward, Hampshire County Council Chris Bluemel, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (Green Party) for Southampton Test David Callaghan, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (Liberal Democrat) for Southampton Test Maria Hutchings, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (Conservative) for Eastleigh Tom McCann, Prospective Parliamentary Candidate (Liberal Democrat) for NW Hampshire Dental Professionals Tony Lees, BDS Dental Surgeon Dr. Jennifer Luke, BDS (Lon), LDS, MSc, PhD Johan Delva, LTH (RUG) General Dental Practitioner, Southampton Ian Kendal, LDS RCS, Dental Surgeon, Eastleigh R Zac Cox, BDS General Dental practitioner, Bursledon Professor Richard Johns, PhD, LDS RCS (Eng.), Emeritus Professor of Restorative Dentistry, University of Sheffield Dr Andrew Harms, BDS President of the Australian Dental Association 1996 Dr Kevin Boehm, DDS, CNC Dr. Meagan J. Lilly-Frank, DDS Dr. John J Palmer, DMD Greer, SC Dr. Armand V. DeFelice, DDS Dental Surgeon Dr. Mae W. Woo, DDS Regents Scholar, Graduate of UCLA School of Dentistry Scientists/academics Professor C. Vyvyan Howard. MB. ChB. PhD. FRCPath. Nano Systems Biology, Centre for Molecular Bioscience, University of Ulster Sir Iain Chalmers, FRCPE FFPH FMedSci, Founder of the Cochrane Collaboration, Editor, James Lind Library, The James Lind Initiative, Oxford, UK. Dr Iain J Robbé, BSc, MSc (PHM), MSc , MB, BS, MRCS, LRCP, FFPHM Clinical Senior Lecturer & Honorary Consultant, Centre for Applied Public Health Medicine, Department of Primary Care & Public Health, School of Medicine, Cardiff University Dr H S Micklem, D Phil(Oxon), Emeritus Professor, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh Dr John Williams, MMarBiol, PhD (physiology), Specialist in environmental toxicology Dr Peter Mansfield, MA, MB, BChir Dr Mike Fenner, BA., PhD. Cllr Paul Clein, B. Pharm., M. R. Pharm. S. Executive Member for Children’s Services, Liverpool City Council 1998-2008 Dr Sarah Goode, BSc (Hons), MA, PhD. Honorary Research Fellow, Research & Policy Centre for the Study of Wellbeing in Communities, University of Winchester. Stephen Peckham, BSc. MA(Econ), HMFPH., Reader in Health Policy Dr Sandra Woolley, PhD., Lecturer, University of Birmingham Dr John Beard, M.A., Ph.D. Cambridge, UK John Eaton, MA (Cantab) F Inst D, MCSI Professor Andrew Blake, MA (Cantab), PhD, Associate Dean, Humanities & Social Sciences, University of East London Dr Mike Fenner, PhD. Biological Sciences Professor Paul Connett, PhD, Professor Emeritus of Chemistry, St. Lawrence University and Executive Director of the Fluoride Action Network Dott. Lorenzo Martelli, PhD Chemist Environmental consultant Dr Michael F. Dolan, Ph.D. Department of Geosciences, University of Massachusetts Professor Beniamino Ginatempo, Professor of Physics, Messina University, Sicily Dr Pierre-Jean Morin, Ph.D. in experimental medicine former Research Director at Laval Hospital (Quebec) Keith E. Reinhardt, Environmental Scientist, E.T.S.U '72 Public Health Sanitation Dr Steve Breyman, Associate Professor Ph.D., Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Prof. Peter L.D. Van Caulart, Dip.A.Ed.,CES,CEI., Director Environmental Training Institute Ridgeville, Ontario, Canada Dr Neil J. Carman, B.S., M.S., Ph.D. Former faculty member in Biological Sciences, University of Texas at Austin Professor James S. Beck, M.D., Ph.D. Professor Emeritus of Medical Biophysics, University of Calgary, Canada Tamara Kazarian, MS Research Specialist, Johns Hopkins University, Dep. Orthopaedic Surgery Professor Richard F. Edlich, MD, PhD, FACS, FASPS, FACEP Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Plastic Surgery, Biomedical Engineering and Emergency Medicine, University of Virginia Health Systems Laurie LeDuc, PharmD Rudolf Ziegelbecker, Mag. Dipl.-Lng. Dr.techn Physicist, Austria Organisations Mohammed Aslam ,Chair, Southampton Medina Mosque Trust John Spottiswoode, Chair, Hampshire Against Fluoridation Cynthia Bagchi, Bedford Allergy Support Group Elizabeth McDonagh, Chairman, National Pure Water Association Steve Mathews, Solent Oyster Fisherman Clive Mathews, Solent Oyster Fisherman Jamie Page, BSc. MBA. Chief Executive, The Cancer Prevention and Education Society, UK Joy Warren, Co-ordinator, West Midlands Against Fluoridation Other Professionals Rodney Burke, BS, MS Health Care Administration, Denton, Texas Dr L. R. B. Mann, M.Sc Ph.D Applied Ecology Whangaparaoa, NEW ZEALAND Dr Geoff Pain, Victoria, Australia Dr James B. Gerni, DC, LAc, Connersville, IN Paul Peter Finney, BS Engineering Stanford University Lady Carla Davis, MPH Kenneth Dunning, M.S., L.M.H.C. Mount Vernon, WA Susan Landes, LMT NMT Fairfax, CA Dr Robert Gabriel, Ph.D Olympia, WA Dr Barry Breger, MD Montreal, Canada Deborah Eversage, RDH E.M.T. O'Nan, Director, Protect All Children's Environment, Marion, North Carolina Sonja Hardy, B. Ed St., Dip T David Buttorff, Retired, University of Louisville (Zoology) Dr Lita Lee, Ph.D. Dr Louis Ricci, Ph.D. in clinical psychology Eugene L.Packer, DC Dr Steve Breyman, Associate Professor Ph.D., Department of Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Doris M Jones, MSc Co-Editor, Environmental Issues Forum Kelly Sicoli, RN, Frontier School of Midwifery & Family Nursing Dr Alexander J. Audette, TCMD, R.Ac., B. Eng. Melanie Lancaster RN Dr David Adams, Penn Valley, CA. Dr Eric Turk, PhD (Neuroscience, UCLA) Dr William Thornton, DC. Santa Monica, CA. Dr Elena Manvelyan. MD.PhD. Head of AWHHE NGO/ Armenia Laurie Martin, RN, MS, LAc Ian E. Packington, MA., Cert Tox, Science Adviser to National Pure Water Association Sherri L. Johnson, RN, BSN, BBA William Snodgrass, Director, Protect All Children's Environment, Marion, North Carolina Dr Alexander J. Audette, TCMD, R.Ac., B. Eng. Dr Barry Groves, PhD., Author: Fluoride: Drinking ourselves to death? Alan Sousie, RNMED, Member, Burlington Board of Health Cara Leverett, MS Biology, Staff Scientist, Atchafalaya Basinkeeper Nancy Page MA Nancy Martin MA George Beard, Bsc., Psychology Research student, University of Southampton Carol Skeggs, Registered Nurse (retired) Muna Lakhani, National Co-ordinator, Institute for Zero Waste in Africa Dr Alfonso Senatore, PhD., University of Calabria, Department of Soil Conservation Christopher Adamo, LCMT Health Educator Cristina Mazza, Professional Interpreter and Translator Gilles Parent, ND.A., Yoshimi Yoshida, Environmental Analyst Luana Mencarelli, TPT., Physiotherapist Margaret Reichlin, NDD, ATD |
