Concern over fluoridation
Many developed countries around the world have not fluoridated their water supply, or have fluoridated their water supply and then ceased fluoridation or in some cases used an alternative form of supplementary fluoridation.
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Some these countries have reported steep declines in dental caries that parallel declines seen in largely fluoridated countries. Dental caries is related to many factors including diet – particularly sugar and carbohydrate exposure, oral hygiene, bacterial mouth flora, access to fluoridated toothpaste and other sources of fluoride.
Fluoride has effects on cells responsible for bone formation and there have been some specific investigations into a possible relationship between fluoride exposure and bone cancer. A study by Bassin (Bassin, Wypij et al. 2006) reported a five-fold increase in risk of osteosarcoma in optimally or highly fluoridated areas compared with areas that had low fluoride.
The risk of even just one teenage death from the highly aggressive bone cancer is not acceptable to allow somebody else to delve into sugar with the belief of being protected from tooth decay, which could also be prevented by properly training in tooth brushing.
Studies have examined intelligence quotient scores in children exposed to significantly higher fluoride levels than those used in Australia – the majority in China. A review of previous studies (Choi, Sun et al. 2012) suggested the possibility of an adverse effect on children’s neurodevelopment.
Dörte Planert, Tathra
Postal voting pain
I am a registered postal voter and did not receive any notification by mail.
It has been verified by a ballot assistant that my name is on the register for postal voting and that obviously the left hand is not working with the right hand and my ballot paper has not been posted.
When asked it was also noted that my stepson’s ballot paper had also not been posted. I wonder how many more voters are in the same predicament and will not be voting through no fault of their own.
This to me shows a gross incompetency and makes me wonder how this can be deemed a fair election.
P Roberts, Bega
Muriel Campbell has rights
The Bega Valley Shire Residents and Ratepayers Association acknowledges and congratulates Tony Allen on his outstanding success in last Saturday’s poll to elect a new council for the Bega Valley Shire.
On ABC Radio South East, Mr Allen described the support that he had drawn from across the shire as a “most satisfying and humbling experience”. He went on to confirm that he would certainly be putting “his hat in the ring” for the role of mayor.
The ABC then asked Mr Allen if he was worried that his refusal to apologise over his breach of Council’s Code of Conduct would “come back to bite him”.
The BVSRRA was impressed by the willingness of the ABC to broach this contentious issue with Mr Allen, who claimed that council had acted as a “kangaroo court” in its handling of the matter and that it “should never have been brought back to council”.
The BVSRRA was disappointed by Mr Allen’s response, given that the finding that he had breached Council’s Code of Conduct was made by an independent reviewer, with that finding subsequently upheld by the Office of Local Government.
While Mr Allen subsequently refused to apologise for his behaviour, as required by a formal resolution of council, he confirmed that “you must have rules; you must have regulations; you must have process. I support all of that but those processes must be used judiciously in the best interests of the councillors and the community”.
The BVSRRA continues to ask: what happened to the interests of Muriel Campbell?