Is it true that fluoride in bottled water is dangerous to health?
Some time ago, the Indonesian people were shocked by the news about the content fluoride in bottled water which is dangerous. Who knows who started this news for the first time, thousands of people have shared information about the negative effects of pregnant water fluoride against health.
What is that fluoride?
Fluoride or fluoride is a type of mineral that can be found easily in nature. These minerals can bind with other chemical elements to form sodium fluoride, hydrogen fluoride, fluorine gas, and many more.
Fluorine can be a gas, liquid, or solid. These substances are generally colorless or white in color and will dissolve once they meet water. You can find fluoride in drinking water naturally or because it was added intentionally by the manufacturer.
Content fluoride in daily drinking water usually varies. This depends on the rocks and minerals that are passed through. Groundwater that passes through the mountains will usually be naturally mineralized and rich fluoride.
After drinking or eating, almost all of the fluorine will be absorbed by digestion, enter the bloodstream, and stored in bones or teeth. Along with other minerals, fluorine helps maintain strong bone and teeth structure.
is fluoride dangerous to health?
Fluoride is an important mineral for the body. In fact, the addition of this substance to bottled water or toothpaste aims to prevent tartar and cavities. Sufficient fluoride is also beneficial for bone health.
The US Department of Health also recommends additions fluoride into bottled drinking water for a similar purpose. As a result, cases of dental caries have continued to decline over the past 70 years after this program was running.
Referring to the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, it is necessary fluoride for adult men that is 4 milligrams per day, while for women 3 milligrams per day. At this dose, fluoride serves as an important mineral that is beneficial for health.
Fluoride can only cause negative effects when the dose is too large. A dose of 0.7 mg / liter is sufficient to provide a good effect on bones and teeth. In excessive doses, this mineral can cause bone and tooth decay.
Effects of consumption fluoride which is excessive
Excessive consumption of fluoride can harm bones, teeth and other organs in the body. Excess fluoride at dangerous levels is actually not a common condition. However, here are the possible effects.
1. Dental fluorosis
Dental fluorosis is a structural disorder of tooth enamel due to excessive fluorine intake during the first eight years of life. This condition occurs when the womb fluoride in water reaches 1.5 – 2 mg / L, depending on how much a person drinks the water.
2. Inhibit children’s brain development
A research in China states that there is a decrease in IQ in children who drink water with the womb fluoride 2.5 – 4 mg / L. Their IQ was 0.45 points lower on average than the children who drank water with less fluoride content.
3. Affects the hormone system
Excessive consumption of fluoride can also cause a decrease in thyroid hormone, an increase in parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, and interfere with the work of insulin in controlling blood sugar. This imbalance can impact other systems.
4. Reproductive disorders
Animal studies have concluded that fluoride in very high levels can cause disturbances in the growth of the reproductive system. However, the effects on humans still require further research.
5. Disorders of other organs
Animal studies have concluded that fluoride intake in excess of 4 mg / L can irritate the digestive organs, as well as damage the liver andkidney. Meanwhile in humans, high fluoride levels are not recommended for people with kidney disease.
Is drinking water containing fluoride safe to eat?
The World Health Organization (WHO) has set a standard for fluoride content in bottled water, which should not exceed 1.5 milligrams / liter (mg / L). Content exceeding this standard can cause dental fluorosis or even bone fluorosis.
Indonesia also applies the same standards. Through the Minister of Health Regulation No. 492 / Menkes / Per / IV / 2010 concerning the Requirements for the Quality of Drinking Water, it is determined that the content fluoride in drinking water should not exceed 1.5 mg / L.
SNI 01-3553-2006 Concerning Bottled Drinking Water is even more stringent. In this regulation, it is stated that the content fluoride in mineral water should not exceed 0.5 mg / L.
As long as it does not exceed this limit, contain drinking water fluoride remains safe for consumption. Bottled water that meets this standard usually has an SNI label and number. So, make sure you choose bottled water that is standardized.
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Guidelines for Drinking-Water Quality. (2004). Retrieved 24 March 2021, from https://www.who.int/water_sanitation_health/water-quality/guidelines/fluoride-fs-new.pdf
Fluoride Myths & Facts. (nd). Retrieved 24 March 2021, from https://ilikemyteeth.org/fluoridation/fluoride-myths-facts/
5 Reasons Why Fluoride in Water is Good for Communities. (nd). Retrieved 24 March 2021, from https://www.ada.org/en/public-programs/advocating-for-the-public/fluoride-and-fluoridation/5-reasons-why-fluoride-in-water-is-good-for-communities
Community Water Fluoridation. (2020). Retrieved 24 March 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/index.html
National Research Council. 2006. Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/11571.
Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia. (2010). Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No. 492 / MENKES / PER / IV / 2010 concerning Requirements for Drinking Water Quality.
Choi, A., Sun, G., Zhang, Y. and Grandjean, P. (2012). Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Environmental Health Perspectives, 120 (10), pp. 1362-1368.
