Fluoride fuss alive and well

Friday April 24, 2009 (foodconsumer.org) -- Since fluoride was introduced into the nation's water supply more than 50 years ago, controversy over its use is still raging, with no clear winner yet in sight.

While the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) hails the use of fluoride as one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th century for its prevention of tooth decay, other groups are strenuously opposed to its use in public water systems.

The Fluoride Action Network (FAN) posted a statement signed by more than 2,000 professionals opposing the use of fluoride, saying the Environmental Protection Agency's standard for the chemical is too high. "The EPA's standard of four parts per million is unsafe and should be lowered," reads the statement posted in 2008.

FAN cites a review by the National Research Council that said the risks associated with these levels of fluoride can cause a "wide range of adverse effects." The risks, included in the 2006 publication by the Council, include bone fractures, decreased thyroid function, lowered IQ rates, arthritic-like conditions and dental fluorosis (a discoloration and mottling of tooth enamel).

Fluoride was introduced into the nation's water supplies in 1945 as an experiment. The cities of Newburgh, NY, and Grand Rapids, MI., were the first tested; by the 1950s, after positive results were seen, public health officials recommended fluoridation for all communities. As of 2006, more than 69 percent of the population, or more than 184 million people, had fluoride in their water, according to the CDC.

The controversy over fluoride is not the chemical itself; according to both sides, it is the amount of the chemical used.

The World Health Organization (WHO) agrees that high levels of fluoride are an extreme health hazard, and that keeping safe levels of fluoride in drinking water is "critical." Chronic high-level exposure to fluoride can lead to skeletal fluorosis, which is a bone disease. "Moderate levels (of fluoride) lead to dental effects," states the WHO website, "but long-term ingestion of large amounts can lead to potentially severe skeletal problems. The control of drinking-water quality is therefore critical in preventing fluorosis."

But, they added, "high-level exposure to fluoride is rare" and usually due to accidental contamination of drinking water.

Dr. J. William Hirzy, vice president of the EPA's Union of Scientists, has been a vocal critic of the use of fluoride, and went before a Senate committee in June of 2000 to ask for further studies into the effects of the chemical.

In his statement, Hirzy said his union, representing more than 1,500 professionals in Washington, DC, opposed the use of fluoride and asked Congress to investigate fluoride more thoroughly. Hirzy cited numerous studies about the effects of fluoride including some that linked fluoride exposure to direct adverse effects on the brain.

While the Kids Health Organization recognizes the controversies over fluoride, they state "There has been little evidence to support these claims."

"Dramatic reduction in tooth decay in the past 30 years is attributed to fluoridation of the water supply, and parents and health professionals should continue to ensure that kids receive enough fluoride to reduce cavities." They recommend an optimum level of fluoride of between 0.7 and 1.2 parts fluoride per million parts of water (ppm).

(By Sheilah Downey, and edited by Heather Kelley)