Adding fluoride to water may pose health risks
Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 04/28/06
BY JENNIFER VICKERS
Scary news travels fast. Within weeks after the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences released a study citing adverse health effects of fluoride in water supplies, the Hightstown Board of Health introduced a draft recommendation to the Borough Council supporting a ban on water fluoridation.
Dylan Ross, an alternate Board of Health member, told the Hightstown council "there is a possibility we might be poisoning people." Hightstown adds 1 part per million (ppm) of fluoride to its public water supplies.Hightstown is not the only town in New Jersey that should be concerned. Other New Jersey towns fluoridate their drinking water and could be putting the public's health at risk.
Although the Research Council study focused on drinking water supplies that have naturally occurring fluoride at levels of 4 ppm and higher, the study is highly relevant to municipalities that add 1 ppm fluoride to water supplies. What the study shows is a disappearing margin of safety for fluoride ingestion.
The Research Council found that the current 4 ppm standard for fluoride is too high and has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to make the standard more stringent in order to protect children against severe dental fluorosis and all age groups from bone fractures.Jennifer Vickers is an organizer and communications director of the New Jersey Environmental Federation, Belmar.
BY JENNIFER VICKERS
Scary news travels fast. Within weeks after the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences released a study citing adverse health effects of fluoride in water supplies, the Hightstown Board of Health introduced a draft recommendation to the Borough Council supporting a ban on water fluoridation.
Dylan Ross, an alternate Board of Health member, told the Hightstown council "there is a possibility we might be poisoning people." Hightstown adds 1 part per million (ppm) of fluoride to its public water supplies.Hightstown is not the only town in New Jersey that should be concerned. Other New Jersey towns fluoridate their drinking water and could be putting the public's health at risk.
Although the Research Council study focused on drinking water supplies that have naturally occurring fluoride at levels of 4 ppm and higher, the study is highly relevant to municipalities that add 1 ppm fluoride to water supplies. What the study shows is a disappearing margin of safety for fluoride ingestion.
The Research Council found that the current 4 ppm standard for fluoride is too high and has asked the Environmental Protection Agency to make the standard more stringent in order to protect children against severe dental fluorosis and all age groups from bone fractures.Jennifer Vickers is an organizer and communications director of the New Jersey Environmental Federation, Belmar.
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