I was angry, so I sent this letter about fluoride to the Lincolnshire Echo Letters page, and it was printed.

Once again, Primary Care Trust Director of Health, Dr. Robert Wilson, wants to extend the ill-advised process of adding fluoride to our drinking water, to the rest of Lincolnshire. So far it is added in West Lincolnshire - unfortunately for us! Dr. Wilson's mission seems to be to improve the health of children's teeth. What he must know but doesn't tell us, is that fluoride, ingested from treated tap water is highly toxic and there are significant side effects.

Eminent researchers into the effects of fluoride have found that fluoride can contaminate our bodies and water supplies. Fluoride is a by-product of the manufacture of phosphate fertilisers, and the aluminium smelting industry. It also contains the toxins lead, mercury, and arsenic. Fluoride is implicated in bone cancers, hip fractures and permanent mottling of children's teeth. Chronic exposure may result in osteoporosis, calcification of the tendons, and the growth of bone spurs - see Linda Lazarides - 'The Nutritional Health Bible' in recommended readings

In her Magazine, 'Healing Points', Ann Gillanders says that in areas where fluoride has been introduced into the water supply, there has been an increase in bone cancer, particularly in young men. Yet Dr Robert Wilson boasted 2 years ago that West Lincs Primary Health Care Trust spent £95,000 per annum of our money on fluoridation of our water supplies!!

In his book 'Cancer - why we are still dying to know the Truth', Phillip Day refers to Dr Burk of the National Cancer Institute: research reveals that fluoride causes more human cancer death, and causes it faster than any other chemical. And all this, without so much as a by-your-leave for the consumers!

Campaigner Dr Lee MD tells us that fluoride is a toxic waste product of many industries which would have no way to dispose of tons of toxic waste - unless they could find some use for it, so they made up this story that it was good for dental health. Federal research showed that fluoridation of water and toothpaste appears to cause 20-30 excess cancer deaths for every 100,000 people exposed per year after about 15-20 years, yet most of us continue to absorb it every time we clean our teeth.

Nutritionist Patrick Holford, founder of the Institute of Optimum Nutrition, says in his book '500 Health and Nutrition Questions Answered' that fluoride has only a minor part in protecting teeth and that this is "out-weighed" by the risks of serious side-effects, including poor mental development in children.

Other factors play a greater role in tooth decay - poor diet, high sugar intake, inadequate dental hygiene and a predisposition to tooth decay. Instead of poisoning the population and the environment, would it not be better to promote optimum diet and thorough dental care, using natural safe products such as fluoride-free toothpaste?

I am 54. The last time I had fillings was in 1975. Having studied Nutrition, I encourage my family and clients to eat the best possible food and to avoid personal care products that are toxic to our bodies.