Fluoride for our water
Fluoridation of south-east Queensland water supplies began on Monday at a water treatment plant in Molendinar, north of the Gold Coast, but it could take nearly two weeks to flow from the taps.
It marks the first step of the government's plan to provide fluoridated water to 90 per cent of the south-east and the remainder of Queensland by 2012.
The introduction of fluoridated water should improve the state's dismal dental health record, that shows Queensland kids have 30-40 per cent more tooth decay than children from other states.
Queensland Health Minister Stephen Robertson denied reports that the fluoride was contaminated saying the top-quality product came from Belgium, not China as reported, and Queenslanders could rest easy the water would be tested daily.
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