Human Toxicity, Environmental Impact and Legal Implications of

HUMAN TOXICITY, ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT AND LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF WATER FLUORIDATION
10.23 Treaty of Europe- Implications for Environment
The preservation, protection and improvement of the quality of the
environment, including the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna
and flora, are an essential objective pursued by the Community, as stated in
the Treaty of Europe (TEU).
Article 3.3 TEU states that the Union ―shall work for the sustainable
development of Europe and introduces specific reference to the promotion
of scientific and technological progress, which could also have implications
for environmental protection.
In its relations with the wider world, the EU shall uphold and promote its values
and contribute to the ―sustainable development of the Earth.‖ To this end, the
Union will work towards the adoption of ―international measures to preserve
and improve the quality of the environment and the sustainable
management of global natural resources‖ (Art. 21.2 TEU).
Article 174 of the Treaty provides that Community policy on the environment
is to contribute to the preservation, protection and improvement of the
quality of the environment, the protection of human health and the prudent
and rational utilisation of natural resources and that it is to be based on the
precautionary principle. According to the Treaty of European Union, the
precautionary principle may only be invoked when the following three
preliminary conditions are met:
� identification of potentially adverse effects;
� evaluation of the scientific data available;
� the extent of scientific uncertainty.
It is accepted that water fluoridation causes a toxic effect on the human
body most commonly represented by dental fluorosis. Many other potentially
adverse health and environmental effects have been reported and
presented in this report. The FSA have reported that the effects of formula
feeding on infant health have not been investigated in Ireland. 1109 In addition
the EU Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks has
reported 1110 that the toxicology of hexafluorosilicic acid and
hexafluorosilicictes compounds are incompletely investigated.
The NHS YORK Review, U.S. NRC Scientific Review (2005) and E.U SCHER
Critical Review (2010) highlighted the risks associated with water fluoridation
including the immediate and delayed effects on health, the cumulative toxic
effects of the pollutant, the sensitivity of certain consumers to this compound
and the lack of credible data to prove conclusively that fluoridation of water
supplies is safe. Each scientific review highlighted the lack of adequate risk
1109 Food Safety Authority of Ireland, Recommendations for a national infant feeding
policy 1999.
1110 Critical review of any new evidence on the hazard profile, health effects, and
human exposure to fluoride and the fluoridating agents of drinking water, Scientific
Committee on Health and Environmental Risks, Director General for Health &
Consumers (2010
www.enviro.ie Page 223