I SEE from your article (LET, July 10) that the fluoridation debate has again reared its ugly head.

The whole spurious argument says we need fluoride in the water supply to help protect children's teeth. But think about just how much water we drink.

Why must we all be forced to ingest vast amounts of this chemical when we could just as easily use toothpaste or be more careful about what we eat?

Fluorosis - the thinning and patchy mottling of teeth - is increasing among children and adults, and many more harmful side-effects have long been known.

Fluoride compounds are active ingredients in major tranquillisers and have been shown in many studies to be extremely toxic.

Fluoride has been linked to cancer, mental impairment (particularly in children) and the lowering of fertility, as well as - ironically enough - causing brittle teeth and bones, including a recognised three-fold increase in hip fracture.

Even the US Environmental Protective Agency regards fluoridation as a major health hazard.

Surely, we are exposed to enough additives and environmental pollutants already without allowing life's most precious and essential resource to be adulterated in this way.

JOHN SMITH, Adelaide Terrace, Blackburn.

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