Qld: Fluoride safe and the right move, says AMA

AAP General News (Australia)
12-05-2007
Qld: Fluoride safe and the right move, says AMA

BRISBANE, Dec 5 AAP - Fears that fluoride in Queensland's water supply could cause
bone cancer and other problems are unfounded, a state doctor's group says.

The Australian Medical Association Queensland president Dr Ross Cartmill said anti-fluoride
campaigns were usually based on myth.

"I'm sorry people keep persisting in propagating these myths," he told reporters in
Brisbane today.

"There's absolutely no evidence that any of these things are going to happen.

"When people say that there's potential for toxicity they really are exaggerating.

"Anything that you want to ingest in large doses can be toxic ... but we're talking
about minute doses in the drinking water."

Dr Cartmill said the AMA had been concerned about oral health in Queensland's children
for some time - with cases of decayed, missing or filled teeth 50 per cent above the national
average.

Fluoridation would bring improvements in just a few years, he said.

"When you have good news like this it's hard to stop smiling," he said.

"This is great news for Queenslanders, and specifically, great news for the kids of
Queensland, and their dental health."

The move was also well received by opposition health spokesman John-Paul Langbroek,
a dentist of more than 20 years.

"Hopefully today's decision will, over time, help reduce the staggering public dental
waiting lists we have in Queensland, where more than 80,000 people wait up to seven years
for treatment," he said.

AAP gd/jfm/bwl

KEYWORD: FLUORIDE AMA

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