AS work begins on the Northern Water Scheme, which will pump fluoridated water from Dunedin’s Mount Grand water treatment station to Waitati, Warrington and Seacliff, there are rumblings of discontent from residents of the seaside communities. None of the townships presently have fluoride in their water. At a public meeting in Waitati on Monday night, […]
News Archive
Welcome to the Fluoride Action Network News Archive. The FAN News Archive serves as an historical repository for fluoride news stories, positive or negative. Since FAN catalogs all news stories on fluoride, our news section remains a reliable database of all published fluoride news.
Our news database is categorized by country, state/province, and industry. This collection of articles is constantly being updated with the most recent global news on fluoride-related issues and events.
Otago District Health Board active promotor (4th of 12 articles in series)
OTAGO District Health Board is an active player in the fluoridation debate in the region. During last year’s local authority elections, alongside a Vote Fluoride publicity campaign, the board sponsored a fluoridation referendum in areas of Otago and Southland where the water supply was not fluoridated. Non-fluoridated areas of Dunedin were not included because the […]
Most councillors would vote “yes” to fluoride (5th of 12 articles in series)
IF Dunedin city councillors were asked to vote today on whether to retain fluoridation of the water supply across the city, the results would be a firm “yes”. In the light of the fluoridation debate sparked by Waitati residents, The Star asked councillors if they would vote “yes” or “no” to fluoridation? Only two councillors, […]
Fluoride used in NZ a byproduct of the fertilizer industry (6th of 12 articles in series)
FLUORIDE for use in New Zealand’s water supply is a byproduct of the fertiliser industry, the New Zealand Institute of Chemistry (NZIC) says. In a report prepared by the NZIC and available on its website, the extraction and production of the fluroide is explained. An abridged version is presented below. Water fluoridation is an important […]
Upgrade motive queried (7th of 12 articles in series)
DUNEDIN City Council rejects anti-fluoridation activist Olive McRae’s suggestions fluoridation equipment upgrade at Mt Grand water treatment station is being done secretively to avoid opposition. This year, more than $50,000 will be spent replacing the treatment station’s aged fluoridation dosing equipment. Ms McRae, who is the Dunedin representative for the New Zealand Fluoride Action Network, […]
History of fluoridation (8th of 12 articles in series)
THE history of fluoridation is a tale of discovery, experimentation and controversy. • 1805 – Experiments by Italian chemist Domenico Morichini and Frenchman Joseph Gay Lussac lead to the conclusion that in certain cases calcium fluoride seems to able to substitute for calcium phosphate in bones and teeth. * 1840 – Under the influence of […]
Outram mum uses fluoridated toothpaste (9th of 12 articles in series)
OUTRAM mother of two Jolene Casey admits to “sitting on the fence” when it comes to the fluoride debate. Mrs Casey lives in a non-fluoridated water area, but having lived in Outram all her life she knows no different. After reading the pros and cons of the fluoride debate (page 9), she still did not […]
Family reduces its intake (10th of 12 articles in series)
DUNEDIN woman Carla Lawrie is monitoring her children’s fluoride intake by opting for natural (non-fluoride toothpaste) on their teeth, because they get fluoride in their water supply. Mrs Lawrie had heard about the fluoridation debate and said both sides appeared to have compelling arguments for and against. “But not being a scientist, I’m still undecided,” […]
Dunedin youths happy with status quo (11th of 12 articles in series)
THE fluoridated water debate is not a top concern for year 12 pupils Tim Gledhill and Tom Manning of John McGlashan College. When approached for their opinion, they said they were not aware there was a fuss over fluoride. Tim said the only thing he knew about fluoride was it was good for your teeth, […]
Lack of facts ‘frustrating’ (Last of 12-part series)
Rose Hines (67), of Dunedin, has been hearing about the fluoridation debate for more than 45 years, and has yet to decide where she stands on it. “It’s difficult to know which in the longer run is the biggest benefit,” she said. Mrs Hines notes proponents of fluoride will always find scientific evidence to support […]