In reply to your recent article about the fluoride in drinking water debate, I should like to point out that fluorosis, causing discoloured teeth etc, is not the only problem that can be caused by this mass medication.

There are people who are unable to drink this water without suffering gastero-intestinal upsets.

My son is one of these people.

Initially he did not realise what made him ill when stating in certain towns in the country but not in others and why he was always fine at home.

Eventually he realised that the connection was that he got the symptoms where there was fluoride added to the water.

He now takes bottles of 'Bolton water' with him if visiting one of these places and is fine.

He also uses non-fluoride toothpaste.

It makes me wonder how many other people have the same problem without realising the cause.

I know that these effects have been reported elsewhere. There are also reports of links with cancers.

Surely the answer is not to force everyone to drink this stuff but to provide fluoride tablets, treatments, etc. for any parents who want this for their children.

These are all easily available.

After all we would not put aspirin in the water in case someone had a headache!

Mrs R Ashworth

Bolton