New Plymouth residents suddenly feeling perky after the cessation of water fluoridation are being asked to join a lawsuit action against the Health Ministry.
Fluoridegate Legal Action NZ is advertising today to find people who might have had a chemical intolerance to fluoride and would be interested in joining a class action lawsuit against the ministry.
The advertisement states that those suffering from chronic fatigue, gastric and digestive problems requiring medication, skin problems and tingling nerves in fingers or toes might have a chemical intolerance to fluoridation. If so, their symptoms might be disappearing.
In October the New Plymouth District Council unexpectedly decided to stop fluoridating the district’s water supply but it has taken until now for the water to be essentially free of added fluoride.
Mark Atkin, of FLANZ, said he had timed the advertisement to run when people might be noticing a difference in how they feel.
“They ministry refuses to accept anyone is intolerant to fluoride. People are allergic to peanuts, pineapple, iodine, everything in the world some people have an intolerance to, but the ministry says people don’t have one to fluoride,” Mr Atkin said.
In a bid to show they do have an intolerance, some of those who join the class action will be subjected to independent tests to demonstrate their reaction to fluoride.
Mr Atkin believes it is this evidence and a deal he has struck with “one of the country’s top law firms” that will ultimately see the case succeed.
“We’ll have all the evidence they will have none. There has been no studies to disprove chemical intolerance,” he said.
Despite the risk of independent testing also revealing no link between fluoride and illness, Mr Atkin is confident that would not happen. He expected to be ready to start the suit within two years.
A spokesman for the ministry said yesterday there was no basis for any legal action about fluoridation. “Fluoridation of water supplies is supported by respected authorities, including the World Health Organisation. Water fluoridation is a safe, effective and affordable way to prevent and reduce tooth decay within communities,” the spokesman said.
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