THE chemicals used to fluoridate the water supplies are toxic and do not have any nutritional value.

Their acid nature can be responsible for causing brittle teeth and bones by inhibiting the calcium in the body.

They are the waste products of industry.

In hard water areas, the mineral content consists of calcium, magnesium and other fluoride elements beneficial to bones and teeth.

It is false to imply that the chemicals and the natural mineral elements are one and the same thing. They are not.

After 40 years of fluoridation in Birmingham, would the former East Lancashire director of public health, Stephen Morton (LET, August 31), please publish the figures showing the number of dentists pro rata the population 40 years ago and the number of dentists pro rata the population as it is today?

Having witnessed the effect on people's teeth and the comparison of the standard of health of certain diseases in comparison of areas around Birmingham, I know our opposition to the intent is fully justified.

Fluoridation, the compulsory medication of the community, deprives us of our freedom to choose for ourselves how we medicate ourselves.

We intend to retain our personal freedom of choice and disposal of these waste chemicals in our drinking water deprives us of our freedom.

W J KNELLER (Secretary, Fight Against Fluoridation, Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley), Revidge Road, Blackburn.