SIR: Fluoride is a poisonous by-product of a commercial chemical process. The so called safe amount of fluoride which can be ingested is counted in parts per million meaning that dosage is critical.

Babies, who drink large amounts of water relative to their body weight, either via their mother's milk or along with powdered milk, have a lower resistance to such poisonous substances. Boiling the water cannot remove fluoride. Most filters in the home cannot remove it. The safest way to avoid ingesting it is not to put any extra in the water in the first place.

If the dosage is deemed correct for the average child between the ages of six months and 16 years, which is generally regarded as the age range during which fluoride has its one positive effect, then the dosage must be too high for young babies. If the dosage is OK for babies then it is too low for the average child and it is questionable whether the fluoridation of water is the best way to use it on our children.

As dosage is critical, I would like to know how the people who want to place this poison in our water supply will be able to control how everyone will get the "correct" amount.

It would appear that too much can even be detrimental to teeth, the main basis for the argument for fluoridation. There are lots of rumours surrounding the effects of fluoride, including its effects on dialysis patients, but very little in the way of statements from the people literally forcing it down our throats.

Neil Morgan

Great Lever, Bolton

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