Fluoride in Drinking Water - Assignment Example

Fluoride in drinking water Fluoride should not be added to the water supplied to residents of towns and cities in New Zealand Fluoridation of water refers to the addition of the fluoride chemical to the public supplies of water, with the main intention of reducing cavities in the teeth of consumers. Currently, majority of the residents of New Zealand consume fluoridated public water. Most of those consuming water from the municipal supply systems consume fluoridated water. There has been growing pressures in New Zealand to stop fluoridation of public water. The New Plymouth District Council voted for the stoppage of water fluoridation within the district. The practice has been going on in the district for the past 40 years, and the district had the intention of using a chemical to reduce dental decay. The decision by the New Plymouth District Council to bring to an end the water fluoridation is seen as thetermination of the practice in New Zealand. According to Mary Byrne of the anti-fluoride group, the Fluoride Action Network New Zealand, the New Plymouth District Council decision could bring a domino effect to other councils leading to the chemicals rejection (Stare, 1990). Fluoride, an ionic compound, contains the fluorine components. Fluoride, naturally found component in most of the rocks in New Zealand and worldwide, is the single most reactive element in water. Approximately 90 percent of the fluoride components added to the municipal water supplies come from the chemicals known as silicofluorides. The silicofluorides chemicals production is from the by-products of the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers. In most of New Zealand’s District Councils, fluoride is added to the municipal water supplies at the concentration of about one part per million or even slightly below. Fluoride concentrations occurring in surface waters depend on location, but concentrations are low, and in most cases do not exceed 0.3 ppm. Groundwater can however contain much higher concentration levels. Fluoride should not be included to the water supplied by district councils to the residents of cities and towns in New Zealand. A move by New Plymouth District Council is welcome and should act as a precedent to other district councils in New Zealand. Proponents of fluoridation argue that the fluoride helps by binding to tooth enamel. Enamel is primarily composed of hydroxylapatite; a crystal made up of phosphorus, calcium, oxygen and hydrogen. By replacement of hydroxyl molecule on hydroxylapatite, the resistance of the tooth to acidity attacks from bacteria will increase because of the fluoride components (Wagner, 1993). The proponents have however been unable to explain exactly how fluoride will help protect the teeth, and the degree of its protection is also unclear. If tooth decay is left untreated, more serious health problems can easily occur. Infections if untreated can easily spread to the jaw. Opponents of fluoridation have argued that tooth decay has declined in New Zealand because of fluoridation, but there has been a decline in teeth decay in countries that do not practice fluoridation. Fluoridation was introduced in New Zealand in the 1940s, but it has been a source of much controversy since its inception. Pro-fluoridation advocates argue that the fluoridation process is effective and safe for reducing cavities for those consuming and that it is more useful when consumed by poor children. Fluoridation of water was endorsed by the dental and medical associations, listing it as one of the critical measures of public health in the 20th century. There has been no any difference among the teeth of those people consuming fluoridated water and those not consuming the fluoridated water, rendering it as not very beneficial. Fluoride is not a very essential nutrient to human beings, and there should be no need for water fluoridation. No disease has ever been found and linked to a deficiency in fluorine. Studies by the opponents of water fluoridation have indicated that human beings can perfectly have good teeth without the help of fluoride. Fluoridation of water is a form of unethical mass medication. Since the uptake of fluoridated water is in mass form, most of the consumers are unaware of the fluoridation and have, therefore, not consented to its use. The dosage cannot be controlled when fluoride is put into drinking water. It is because some people like those with kidney problems and laborers drink more water than others and will thus take higher quantities of fluorine that is not good for their health. Opponents of fluorine have over the past cited studies that indicated that low fluoride levels have been linked to health effects like thyroid disorders, bone fractures and impaired brain function and development. Dental fluorosis is the most common and obvious health effect emanating from excess consumption of fluoride. The symptoms of Dental fluorosis when mild include having white streaks in the teeth and cases of severity; there are cases of pits, brown stains and broken enamel. In New Zealand, forty-one percent of children aged between twelve and fifteen years had some forms of Dental fluorosis that makes water fluoridation avoidance case to be strong. Within the last 15 years, it has been found out that fluoride primarily works topically. An example is a scenario when it is applied to the teeth in toothpaste that have fluoride-rich components. Those who would prefer to use fluoride can thus access it in the toothpaste and; therefore, there is no need of adding it to the water. In the current technologically advanced world, many people are exposed to diverse sources of fluoride than at the time it was introduced. Fluoride should thus be left for people who prefer it consume, not forcing it to people through public basic needs. There is an insignificant link between tooth decay and fluoride exposure. In 2009, a study was undertaken in the state of Iowa in the US to track the fluoride exposure, where the study of more than 600 children occurred. There was no significant link between tooth decay and fluoride exposure. Because there are no randomized trials of fluoridation of water, and that is standard for all drugs, fluoride should not be added to basic needs like water. Those people who deem it fit consume it can use other channels like toothpaste. Fluoride has been found to be too toxic at certain concentrations (Fawell, 2006). Though the levels added to the water has been found to be effective and safe, its concentrations can increase especially when consumed in other forms like in toothpaste. In the United States of America, there was a most comprehensive report on fluoride published by the National Research Council in 2006. In the report, it was observed out that the upper limit for fluoride, which was put at 4 ppm in the United States, was too high to prevent a certain group of children from developing a more serious form of dental fluorosis. Agencies hence put recommendations on lowering the limit. The United States agencies have since lowered the limits (Bryson, 2004). Fluoridation of water occurs in almost all districts and cities in New Zealand with the exception of New Plymouth District. The city of Hamilton is another city going the same direction as New Plymouth District. The council of the city has recently lobbied into abolishing water fluoridation. There have been various organized campaigns that will lead into its abolition. The council’s health minister ordered for the marshaling of the scientific cases for both fluoridation safety issues and health benefits emanating from fluoridation. Many people in Hamilton are in the view that water fluoridation will not necessarily strengthen and protect teeth against decay. There has been a rise in anti-fluoridation lobbying, and a win in Hamilton will be seen as a stepping stone to the contest in wellington and Auckland. Hamilton residents have been contentiously debating fluoridation matters, and the same debate is expected to spill to Wellington and Auckland. On the fall of 2012, a study on fluoridation was conducted in china in the journal called Environmental Health Perspectives. It was found that there was a link between lower IQs in children and high fluoride levels naturally found in drinking water both in china and all over the world. Out of the 27 regions studied, 26 found out that there was a link between lower IQ and high-fluoride drinking water. The study found that the average difference of IQ between low and high fluoride areas was seven points. References A question of evidence: It’s time for decisions about the fluoridation of public water supplies to be taken away from local councils [Editorial]. (2013, July 20). New Zealand Listener, 239(3819), 3 Bryson, C. (2004). The fluoride deception. New York: Seven Stories Press. Fawell, J. K. (2006). Fluoride in drinking-water. London: IWA Pub. Fluoride in drinking water a scientific review of EPAs standards. (2006). Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press. Stare, F. J. (1990). Fluoridation. New York: American Council on Science and Health. Wagner, B. M. (1993). Health effects of ingested fluoride. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press. Read More