Drinking water standards fluoride in drinking water is regulated under section 1412 of the safe drinking water act sdwa. Fluoride has both beneficial and detrimental effects on human health. Higher levels of fluoride exposure over a lifetime may cause a bone and joint condition described as skeletal fluorosis. This document is available in its entirety in electronic format pdf on the institut. Fluoridation of public drinkingwater supplies involves the deliberate adjustment of fluoride concentrations in drinking water from their naturally low levels. Fluoride enters the body with food, through respiration and products containing fluoride 3. See epas about pdf page to learn more dental fluorosis. In addition, the expert body on fluorides and health in ireland is of the opinion that water fluoridation significantly benefits dental health. Just over 200,000 americans live in communities where fluoride levels in drinking water are 4 mgl.
When regulating a contaminant under this act, epa promulgates both a maximum contaminant level goal mclg, a nonenforceable health goal, and a maximum contaminant level mcl, which is a federally enforceable standard. Information related to fluoride health effects in drinking water. Third, we find that fluoride improves later labor market outcomes, which indicates that good dental health is a positive factor on. Fluoride in drinking water and its effects h2o distributors. Mar 25, 2016 the first studies about positive effects were conducted in 1945 with systemic fluoridation of drinking water in four american cities grand rapids, evanston, brantford and newberg, where 1 mg of fluoride per liter was added to drinking water. Community water fluoridation is the adjustment of fluoride in drinking water to reach a level that can help to reduce tooth decay. Consider, for example, the poison warning that the fda now requires on all fluoride toothpastes sold in the u. Fluoride in drinkingwater world health organization. Fluoride is voluntarily added to some drinking water systems as a public health measure for reducing the incidence of cavities among the treated population. People are primarily exposed to fluoride from drinking water and use of fluoridated dental products, with water fluoridation representing 30% to. In 1986, the epa established a maximum allowable concentration for fluoride in drinking water of 4 milligrams per liter, a guideline designed to prevent the public from being exposed to harmful levels of fluoride. In warm climates where drinkingwater consumption is generally greater, naturally high fluoride levels in drinkingwater supplies can result in particularly high daily intake of fluoride. The nrc identified severe dental fluorosis as an adverse health effect.
Drinking water is usually, but not always, the main source of fluoride and fluoride is sometimes added to public water supplies to help prevent dental caries. Fluoridation of public drinking water supplies involves the deliberate adjustment of fluoride concentrations in drinking water from their naturally low levels 0. The scope of the research program embraces all aspects of water supply operation, from development and maintenance of water resources to treatment technologies and water quality issues, from storage and distribution system operations to health effects. Learn about the health benefits of fluoride, its side effects, and the controversy surrounding its use in public water supplies. Fluoride is known to have both beneficial and adverse effects on humans, depending on the total intake. Since the discovery of its health benefits in the mid1940s, fluoride is often added to the public water supplies of industrialized countries in order to reduce the populations tooth decay. The evidence beginning in the early 20th century, scientists linked high levels of naturally occurring fluoride in certain community water supplies to low levels of tooth decay. The first studies about positive effects were conducted in 1945 with systemic fluoridation of drinking water in four american cities grand rapids, evanston, brantford and newberg, where 1 mg of fluoride per liter was added to drinking water. Tooth decay is one of the most common health problems in australia. Fluoride varnish prevents tooth decay in people who are at risk for the disease. In warm climates where drinking water consumption is generally greater, naturally high fluoride levels in drinking water supplies can result in particularly high daily intake of fluoride. Children in those communities are at risk of developing.
Health information summary fluoride is widely found in water supplies, but usually below a concentration that would cause undesirable effects. Fluoride heath effects in drinking water safe drinking. Exposure to high fluoride drinking water and risk of. Commercially bottled water drinking water healthy water cdc. Does adding fluoride to water have any side effects. Because new research on fluoride is now available and because the safe drinking water act requires periodic reassessment of regulations for drinking water contaminants, epa requested that the nrc evaluate the adequacy of its mclg and smcl for fluoride to protect public health. Exposure to high fluoride drinking water and risk of dental. Most canadians are exposed to fluorides on a daily basis, both through the trace amounts found in almost all foods and those that are added to some drinking water supplies to prevent tooth decay. The effects of fluoride in the drinking water, ifau working. The most efficient way to prevent caries is by using fluoridated dental products 1, 2.
Infant formula with fluoridated water and fluorosis. Adverse health effects from fluoride in drinking water. Fluoride can occur naturally in water supplies from insignificant amounts to dangerously high concentrations. It is also produced synthetically for use in drinking water, toothpaste, mouthwashes and various chemical products. In australia, community water fluoridation programs are considered a safe and effective way of reducing tooth decay across the population. The effects of fluoride in the drinking water, ifau. Fluoride is a mineral thats found in many places naturally. It has been argued that in communities with piped water supplies it is the most cost effective method of. Drinking water contaminant human health effects information. For each chemical contaminant or substance considered, a lead institution prepared a health criteria document evaluating the risks for human health from exposure to the particular chemical in drinkingwater.
The effects of fluoride in the drinking water, ifau working paper. Brushing your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste helps prevent tooth decay. Health effects and remediation the most salient feature of fluoride geochemistry is its ability to exchange with the oh. Health effects and remediation the public drinking water supply system in isparta, turkey draws water from lakes and springs discharged from volcanic rocks, golcuk. While there is currently no standardized label for bottled water, this label may tell you about the way the bottled water is treated. However groundwater in many countries has exceeding. The fluoride content of groundwater generally averages around 0.
Ifau the effects of fluoride in the drinking water. Just over 200,000 americans live in communities where fluoride levels in drinking water are 4 mgl or higher. People are primarily exposed to fluoride from drinking water and use of fluoridated dental products, with water fluoridation representing 30% to 70% of a typical individuals total exposure. In terms of dental health, the prevalence of dental caries is inversely related to the concentration of fluoride in drinking water. At appropriate concentrations, doses and frequency of use in drinking water and dental products, fluoride has proven to reduce the prevalence and severity of tooth decay, a disease with potentially serious consequences. Fluoridation of drinking water is the addition or adjustment of fluoride to a drinking water supply for the purpose of preventing and controlling tooth decay. Fluoride is added to municipal water supplies and dental products, such as toothpaste, to prevent or reduce tooth decay. The united states environmental protection agency epa has established a maximum contaminant level mcl of 4. Maximum contaminant levels are the maximum permissible level of a contaminant in water delivered to users of a public water system. For basic information on bottled water, see epas brochure on bottled water basics pdf 7 pages external. To prevent dental caries in areas where the fluoride level in drinking water is less than 0. Many decades after fluoride was first added to drinking water in some parts of the united states, there is still controversy about the possible health effects of drinking water fluoridation. This limit prevents exposure to harmful levels of fluoride in drinking water.
The concentration of fluoride in natural waters depends primarily on. Fluoride is a part of the natural environment and is therefore constantly present in peoples lives. Check the label for a tollfree number or web page address of. More information on fluoride concentrations in drinking water and the risk of severe. Community water fluoridation as a public health measure new zealand water supplies generally have naturally low concentrations of fluoride. May 30, 2017 what are the proven side effects of drinking water containing fluoride. Evidence of water fluoridations effects on plants, ani. Pdf fluoride at low concentration is an essential element for dental health. You may need a pdf reader to view some of the files on this page. For each chemical contaminant or substance considered, a lead. This was based on extensive research and consideration of other sources of fluoride. It has beneficial effects on teeth and bones when it is present at low concentration in drinking water, but excessive exposure to fluoride in drinkingwater, or in combination with exposure to fluoride from other sources, can give rise to a number of adverse effects which include teeth decay, osteoporosis and harm to kidney, bones, reproductive. Pdf exposure of fluoride f through drinking water and its adverse health effects have been reported in many parts of the world.
We test this by examining the effects of fuoride in the drinking water on dental health where we expect to fnd positive effects if this threat is not. Exposure of fluoride f through drinking water and its adverse health effects have been reported in many parts of the world. Community, or artificial, water fluoridationthe addition of a fluoride compound usually hexafluorosilicic acid to public drinking water suppliesis a controversial public health intervention. Higher level of fin groundwater has been reported from many parts of. Community water fluoridation predicts increase in ageadjusted incidence and prevalence of diabetes in 22 states from 2005 and 2010.
Drinking fluoridated water accomplishes this through both topical and systemic actions. Water fluoridation was endorsed as a public health policy in the 1950s in the absence of any testing for the longterm safety of human health. Water fluoridation and the environment centers for disease control. Us public health service recommendation for fluoride ncbi nih. Health advisories has provide information on contaminants that can cause human health effects and are known or anticipated to occur in drinking water. Last summer, for the first time in 53 years, the u. Since the mid1940s, compounds containing the mineral fluoride have been added to community water supplies throughout the u. Water fluoridation has been adopted by several countries as a costeffective public health. Countries that do not fluoridate their water have also seen big drops in the rate of cavities. Fluoride is found naturally in soil, water, and foods. Environmental protection agency today announced that it has reevaluated the current science on fluoride.
The practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to improve dental health has been endorsed by numerous national and international health institutions,including the world health organization. For more information on product certification fluoride fluoride properties and water applications water fluoridation is the practice of adjusting the fluoride content of drinking water. Fluoride in drinking water the national academies press. For each chemical contaminant or substance considered, a lead institution prepared a health criteria document evaluating the risks for human health from exposure to the particular chemical in drinking water. The dental effects of fluoride naturally present in public drinking water were established during the. Drinking water fluoridation minnesota department of health. Increased exposure to fluoride f may cause serious toxic effects.