Drinking water fluoride content level to be lowered in the U.S.A.?

(BY HUGO)

In the U.S.A., current public health guidelines call for drinking water fluoride levels between 0.7 milligrams per liter and 1.2 milligrams per liter.

However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (H.H.S) now recommends that fluoridation be pegged at 0.7 milligrams, the bottom level of the current guidelines' range. Moreover, on 7 January 2011, the U.S. E.P.A. and the H.H.S., announced that they would review the guidelines to ensure maximal health protection (see E.P.A.'s website for background sources).

One of the issues appears to be the possible adverse health impact of cumulative fluoride ingestion from other sources than drinking water (toothpaste, processed food with high fluoride content due to traces of pesticides, etc).

In Québec, optimal drinking water fluoride levels are set at 0.7 milligrams per liter under the Regulation prescribing the optimum fluoride concentration to prevent tooth decay. One eye should be kept on developments South of the border in the event that the E.P.A. review detemines that a lower fluoride concentration is more protective of public health.