News

LETTER: Judge says groups can sue EPA in US over fluoridation of water

January 7th, 2018 8:00 PM

By Southern Star Team

Send your letters to [email protected]

Share this article

SIR – In the week before Christmas, I submitted a document to the Irish and European authorities regarding the highly-controversial policy of mandatory fluoridation of drinking water supplies in Ireland. 

SIR – In the week before Christmas, I submitted a document to the Irish and European authorities regarding the highly-controversial policy of mandatory fluoridation of drinking water supplies in Ireland. 

This policy mandates by national legislation that citizens, residents and visitors to Ireland must consume fluoride in water and associated beverages and foods. 

The document was co-signed by many respected academics, scientists, medical doctors, midwives, neurologists, psychologists, biochemists, molecular and cell biologists, toxicologists, nutritionists and experts in pediatric medicine; as well as historians, poets, educationalists, some of Ireland’s leading food entrepreneurs and the cream of Irish songwriters, and musicians. 

The latter group included Christy Moore, Declan Sinnott, Glen Hansard, Declan O’Rourke, Paul Brady, Sharon Shannon, Mary Black, Frances Black, Damien Dempsey, Steve Wall, Paddy Casey, Liam Ó Maonlaí, Fiachna Ó Braonáin, Jon Kenny, Steve Wickham, Jim Corr, Mary Coughlan, Paul Linehan, Ashley Keating, Mundy, Vyvienne Long, Juliet Feeney, Donal Lunny and Luka Bloom. 

The document was also signed by multi-Oscar-nominated playwright and film director Jim Sheridan, author Patrick McCabe, Oscar-winning film producer David Puttnam and Oscar-winning actor Jeremy Irons as well as hundreds of citizens and parents across the length and breadth of Ireland.

The submission is seeking answers to specific questions from the authorities in the interests of transparency and accountability that the Irish State or its agencies has refused to address in the past and presents new evidence which demonstrates gross negligence and malpractice by the authorities on how this policy is governed in Ireland. 

It is important to be aware that the day after this letter was submitted, Reuters reported that that a federal judge ruled that opponents of fluoridated drinking water in the USA can proceed with a lawsuit against the US Environmental Protection Agency under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The lawsuit by Food & Water Watch, the Fluoride Action Network and other groups relates to scientific evidence that fluoride that cause neurological damage to children. 

If the Irish authorities don’t adequately address the concerns expressed in our submission, we may be left with no option but to take similar legal action against elected politicians with responsibility for the governance of our State and public sector employees with responsibility for water services, food safety and public health, to ensure that they comply with their obligations with respect to the health, safety and welfare of Irish citizens.

Yours sincerely,

Declan Waugh,

Scientist & Risk 

Management Consultant,

11 Riverview,

Bandon.

Share this article


Related content