The UK government is talking again about compulsory fluoridation of our water supplies. City councils across Britain are lining up in opposition to the governments proposal to make fluoridation of our water supplies compulsory.

Liverpool, Bradford, Brighton & Hove, Lancaster and Calderdale councils have all officially stated their opposition to the moves, which could become law by the end of the year. In Manchester, said to be first on the governments fluoridation hit list, Green councillor Vanessa Hall said Manchester Greens will lead a major campaign against fluoridation.

The bill, which comes up for second reading on 8 September, is already causing major distress among individuals. Jane Jones of the National Pure Water Association (NPWA) said: There has been a huge response to this issue. People from all over the country are ringing us up and saying theyre not going to pay their water bills.

Around 160 MPs have signed an Early Day Motion opposing the plans. They are mostly contesting the amendment which allows unelected health authorities to compel water companies to add fluoride to water supplies where there is strong local support?.

According to the government fluoridated water is the best way to reduce tooth decay among children from deprived areas. But the Green Party remains critical; the party has just come up with a report entitled Truth Decay, which shows that levels of tooth decay are the same in fluoridated Gateshead and unfluoridated Liverpool. A party spokesperson said: We want a complete ban on the fluoridation of water supplies. We should educate children and adults about the need for a healthy diet, dental hygiene and cutting down on excessive sugar intake.

Currently in Britain 6 million people, mainly in the West Midlands and North East, drink fluoridated water. Fluoride is a by-product of the aluminium and fertiliser industries and fluoridation is a cheap way for these industries to get rid of a substance which, among other things, contains arsenic, lead and mercury.

Fluoride does inhibit the enzymes that cause tooth decay, but leading scientists claim it has harmful effects which outweigh the benefits. Dental fluorosis, characterised by discoloured, blackened, mottled, or chalky white teeth is a result of overexposure to fluoride in childhood, while a chronic intake of excessive fluoride can lead to severe and permanent bone and joint deformations.

In the US, where 165 million people drink fluoridated water, the National Cancer Institute and National Health Federation have attributed 35,000 cancer deaths a year to water fluoridation. Even the UK governments own review in 1999 found that 48 per cent of people living in fluoridated areas suffer from dental fluorosis.

Concerned UK water companies have sought indemnities from the government against civil and criminal litigation if fluoridation gets on the statue book. Forensic ecologist Doug Cross said: The current offer of indemnity to water suppliers in the new water bill is illegal and unenforceable since fluoridation is illegal.

Under the International Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine everyone has the right to choose or refuse any medical or preventive treatment. The use of fluoride to indiscriminately medicate populations could therefore be viewed as illegal a fact likely to loom large in the subsequent anti-fluoridation campaigns.