Political and social controversy accompanies US President-elect Donald Trump in all his circumstances, but what is new is that the controversy has also spread to his ministerial nominees scheduled to be appointed after Trump assumes his constitutional term. This time the discussion concerns health issues.
Trump nominated Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Trump announced his choice on Thursday in the wake of Kennedy’s recent comments on the safety of fluoride in tap water.
Kennedy is accused by his opponents of having a long history of spreading misleading information about vaccines, according to an article published by the American magazine Newsweek on November 15. On November 2, in a post on the “X” platform, he called for removing fluoride from drinking water in the United States. “Fluoride is an industrial waste linked to arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, loss of intelligence, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease,” he wrote.
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Why is fluoride used in tap water?
Fluoride is a mineral that helps strengthen tooth enamel, making it more resistant to acid attacks from plaque bacteria and sugars, according to the American Dental Association, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other health agencies in the United States.
“Almost all water contains some natural fluoride, but usually at very low levels to prevent tooth decay,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on its website. “Many communities add a small amount of fluoride to the water supply to prevent tooth decay and promote good oral health.”
Many studies have shown that fluoridated water reduces the prevalence of tooth decay in children and adults, as fluoride replaces the minerals in tooth enamel that acid breaks down. The American Dental Association said on its website, “Studies demonstrate that water fluoride is still effective in reducing tooth decay by at least 25% in children and adults, even in an era of widespread availability of fluoride from other sources such as fluoride toothpaste.”
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When was fluoride first added to tap water?
Fluoride was first added to tap water in 1945 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA after research showed that communities with naturally fluoridated water had much lower rates of tooth decay. Studies in Grand Rapids confirmed a significant decline in tooth decay among children, and in subsequent years fluoridated tap water spread throughout the United States.
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How much fluoride is in tap water?
The amount of fluoride in tap water depends on local regulations and guidelines, but is typically maintained at a concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter in areas where fluoride is added. In areas where fluoride is naturally present in the water, concentrations may be higher, and adjustments may be made to meet health guidelines.
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Is fluoride harmful in water?
The American Dental Association stated, “Adding fluoride to water is safe, effective, and healthy. 70 years of research, thousands of studies, and the experience of more than 210 million Americans tell us that adding fluoride to water is effective in preventing tooth decay and is safe for children and adults.”
Excessive exposure to fluoride during tooth development (usually in children under 8 years of age) can lead to dental fluoride poisoning, resulting in discoloration or streaks on tooth enamel. In addition, long-term consumption of water with fluoride levels exceeding recommended limits can lead to skeletal fluoride toxicity, which may cause joint pain, stiffness, and bone deformities.
Excessive fluoride may also interfere with iodine absorption, which may affect thyroid hormone production. This is a problem only if a person consumes fluoride at levels much higher than recommended. Some research suggests that high fluoride levels may affect cognitive development in children, but these findings are controversial and also primarily linked to high exposure in certain areas.
A federal review of all relevant studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program at the National Institutes of Health and published last August found an association between lower IQ in children and higher fluoride levels. But the findings were based on studies in which fluoride levels were twice the recommended limit for drinking water in the United States.
There is no evidence to support Kennedy’s claim that fluoride is linked to cancer
The American Dental Association said: “Like many common substances essential to life and good health – salt, iron, vitamins A and D, chlorine, oxygen, and even water itself – fluoride can be toxic in huge amounts. Eating large amounts of fluoride can lead to… exacerbate the problem.”
The American Dental Association explained that this requires a man weighing 70 kilograms to drink 120 gallons of fluoridated water at a rate of 0.7 mg per liter at once.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a statement, “Expert panels composed of scientists from the United States and other countries, with expertise in various health and scientific disciplines, considered the available evidence in published research reviewed by the researchers, and did not find convincing scientific evidence linking water fluoridation to… Community drinking and any potential adverse health effect or systemic disorder such as increased risk of cancer, Down syndrome, heart disease, osteoporosis, bone fractures, immune disorders, decreased intelligence, kidney disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, or allergic reactions.”