I SEE that the 'add fluoride' brigade is at it again. May I, as an ex-employee of the water industry with over 20 years' experience, warn people of such additions to our water supplies?

Fluoride can and does exist in certain areas as a natural element, but in such areas tooth decay is still very prevalent and can be exacerbated in many instances by the use of toothpaste with added fluoride, as people can be allergic to fluoride.

This can and does cause nasty reactions to both young and old in both teeth and bone formation, etc. Adding fluoride to water supplies introduces this into our food chain - beef, lamb, poultry, etc.

Many chemicals are used by the water industry to safeguard health in giving us good-quality drinking water - among them caustic soda, chlorine, lime and acids - in minute parts per million gallons.

Fluoride supporters will state that fluoride is also a chemical, but I most strongly protest that, in this instance, it would be used as a medicine.

And no-one, however motivated, should be allowed to introduce medicine into our water.

Studies have proved that like all medicines, fluoride is not suitable for all. But once it's 'in,' you cannot take it out. So be warned! It is parental control that should be fighting tooth decay, by cutting down on children's intake of sugary items. The water industry is responsible for supplying water for everyone and is not responsible for fighting tooth decay.

V ROCK (Mr), Epsom Way, Accrington.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.