The re-introduction of fluoride to Bedfordshire’s water supply was up for debate by councillors on Wednesday.
Members discussed a petition from campaign group End Fluoride in Beds (End FIB), which believes adding fluoride to water endangers public health.
In its documents, End FIB claims there is little evidence fluoride prevents tooth decay but it does have detrimental effects on brain and thyroid function, increases the risk of cancer and Alzheimer’s disease and harms babies.
End FIB leader Cynthia Bagchi said: “We needed just 30 signatures to submit our petition. We got 271 and could have had many more.
Fluoridation has been suspended for the past five years while equipment is upgraded. However, authorisation for adding the chemical lies with local authorities, not Anglian Water.
When the work is completed in 2015, fluoridation could resume.
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