Safety of Water Fluoridation

• Important for people living in areas with natural fluoride greater than 2 ppm (mg/L).

• about 0.5% of the U.S. population (1.5 million)

• About 220,000 Americans receive water from public water systems with fluoride levels that are equal to or exceed 4 mg/L.

• People who consume water with ≥4 mg/L fluoride over a lifetime, when compared to people consuming water with 1 mg/L, are likely to be at increased risk for bone fractures.

• Water at ≥2 mg/L fluoride may put children 8 years old and younger at increased risk for severe enamel fluorosis, a condition that causes staining and pitting of the enamel

• Where fluoride levels are greater than 2 mg/L, CDC recommends that parents and caregivers of children 8 years and younger should provide children with drinking water from an alternative water source.

• At levels less than 2 mg/L, the committee found that the prevalence of severe enamel fluorosis was very low (near zero).

• http://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/safety/nrc_report.htm