Health Minister, Lord Hunt, today welcomed the publication of the most comprehensive review of existing research on the health effects of water fluoridation. The report, which is published today in the British Medical Journal, was carried out by independent researchers at York University.

The findings show that water fluoridation improves dental health and the Government will be encouraging health authorities with particular dental health problems to consider fluoridating their water as part of their overall oral health strategy. We will be having further discussions with the water companies and local authorities about water fluoridation.

The report identifies the need for more good quality research and we are asking the Medical Research Council to suggest where it is possible to carry out further research to strengthen the evidence currently available to us.

The research also responds to the concerns that have been raised about the health effects of water fluoridation and concludes that no association has been shown between water fluoridation and cancer, bone fracture or Down's Syndrome.

"In around one third of health authority areas tooth decay remains at unacceptably high levels. We want residents and health professionals in these areas to be made aware of the benefits of fluoridation and to decide whether they want to have their water fluoridated to improve their dental health."

The research into the health effects of fluoridating water was commissioned by the Government in May 1999. It was carried out by the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, which reviewed 213 studies from across the world.

An assessment of the dental health of five year olds across Britain shows that nine out of the top 13 areas for dental health have their water fluoridated.

About half a million people in this country receive water which is naturally fluoridated at, or about, the optimum level of one part of fluoride per million of water. A further one million people received water which is naturally fluoridated at a lower level, but which still confers some dental benefit. These areas are generally found in a band running down the eastern side of the country, from Hartlepool in the north, down to parts of Essex. Some 5 million people receive water where the fluoride content has been artificially increased to a level of one part per million. Major schemes are in operation in Birmingham and throughout the West Midlands, and also in Tyneside.

1. For Detailed Information please contact Maria Murray or Alex Ross at the Department of Health Media Centre on 02 7210 5821 or 020 7210 5707.