Fluorinated Water Contamination

Anthony J. Olivar

Cal State San Bernardino

Introduction
Environmental pollution is the spread of contaminants in our ecosystem. Water pollution,

with the focus on potable water contamination, can be affected by various toxins, conventional

and non-conventional pollutants (Bahls, 1973). Considering the growth of the human population,

man-made pollutants pose a threat in keeping water clean. Most pollutants are noticeable and

identifiable, but for those pollutants that cannot be seen by the naked eye are ones to cause

worry. As such, this paper will focus on how fluorinated water effects the ecosystem and the

human body.

History of Fluoride
Fluoridation in the U.S. started in a time where preventive medicine was on the rise. It

was based on the findings of Dr. McKay, a recent dental school graduate in the year 1901, when

he decided to open up his practice in the town of Colorado Springs, Colorado. He observed many

citizens in that town to have obscure brown stains on his teeth so bad that he actually confused

the stains for chocolate candy stains. Thus the disorder was known as the Colorado Brown Stain.

Dr. McKay started working tirelessly in trying to find an answer for this bizarre condition

seemed to plague the city. Many of the citizens claimed the reasoning for these brown stains

were caused by eating too much pork, drinking low grade milk, and drinking water that was rich

in calcium. This led Dr. McKay to research the underlying reasons for the rising dental issues of

the community. It was in 1909 where Dr. McKay collaborated with a renowned dental researcher

Dr. G.V. Black in efforts to uncover the the root cause for the brown stains on the citizens teeth.

A theory of an unknown ingredient to the citys water supply got the attention of Dr. McKay

where he decided to investigate further in the differences in water sources found around the city.

It was here where Dr. McKay, along with other collaborators, discovered that the reason for the
brown staining was due to high levels of fluoride being found in the municipal water sources

(NIH, 2017).

Implementing Fluoride -

The scientific words of Dr. Mckay and colleagues that led to uncovering the cause of the

brown stains further resulted in novel research question, such as the adequate quantity of fluoride

appropriate for human health. A senior chemist at the National Institutes of Health, ultimately

developed a way to measure fluoride in public water by 0.1 parts per million. Fluoride that

reaches levels up to 1.0 ppm is not considered to be toxic. Since fluoride was found to prevent

tooth decay, it was determined best that all water sources should contain a stable amount of

fluoride (NIH,2017).

Voted in 1944 and added into the water in 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first

city in the U.S. to have added fluoride. In the span of 15 years, it was said about 30,000

schoolchildren participated drinking the fluorinated water and out of those 30,000 children, more

than 60% were found to have little to no dental carries after drinking the added substance. After

the study results were released, the U.S. surgeon general purposed that every municipal water

source in the U.S. should be fluorinated (NIH,2017).

Benefits of Fluoride

Fluoride, along with other dental practices, has become a breakthrough in modern

medicine and it has industrialized its production in how it is viewed today. Fluoride additive

ensures the U.S. population to have healthier teeth, lower risk of dental decay, and most kids

favorite, limited dentist visits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

Bacteria in the mouth produce acid when a person eats sugary foods (CDC, 2016). The

addition of fluoride helps to strengthen teeth enamel by lessening the effects of the bacterial
acids. Ultimately it helps to save money for both health care and households, by eliminating the

need to visit the dentist for a preventable disease such as cavities. The focal point here is to

understand that fluoride is a benefit to ones life and should not be overlooked as just a chemical

element.

Fluoride Availability -

A variety of foods, specially those processed foods, containing fluoride. This helps to

provide the mineral to those who do not have access to fluorinated water. Adding the mineral to

our food and water is the most cost-effective way to ensure every American has an equal chance

to avoid the risk of dental carries. According to the CDC, A persons income level or ability to

receive routine dental care is not a barrier to receiving its health benefits (CDC,2016). Some of

the products include, toothpaste, mouthwashes, fruit juices, teas, and simply everything

processed material in America that can be consumed. Not every Americans not aware to how

much fluoride is entering into their systems. There are warning signs and ingredient list on the

products but not citizen reads them. Is it even necessary anymore to continue to add fluoride into

our water systems if our process contain the mineral already?

Risk of Fluoride

During the time when Dr. Mckay was reviewing the benefits of fluoride, it was the best

practice to be conducted at the time. Much has changed in our environment and many in the

population already have access to the mineral through other sources. The negative effect of

adding fluoride to our drinking water and products is up to much debate with researches

indicating an association between fluoride and cancer. Though there have not been significant

examples as to effects of the mineral, we do know that too much of one thing is never good.

Another negative link is between fluoride and dental fluorosis.

Dental Fluorosis -

Dental Fluorosis, according the Public Health Service Department of Health and Human

Services, has been recognized since the turn of the century in people with high exposure to

naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water (HHS, 1991). Dental fluorosis can cause swelling

in the shoulders, hips and ankles. This can also lead to mottled or cracked teeth. This is caused

by an excess of fluoride in the water as well as the processed foods. Fluorosis is predominant in

both China and India at the moment but with the lack of regulatory policies and awareness

among the U.S. population, soon the U.S. will suffer the same issues.

Certain claims hold highly fluorinated water might be the reason to some bone and joint

deformities in infants, as well as gastrointestinal issues for adults. Most importantly, there has

not been any significant studies that show water fluoridation lowers the risk of tooth decay.

Based on a study conducted by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, it was

predicted in 1950 that by increasing the amount of fluorosis in water it will serve to lower the

reported rates of tooth decay in the U.S. population. What was actually reported was the rate of

fluorosis reports increased and the rate of tooth decay stayed the same (Beltran, 2010). Though

the rate of death from this disease is rare, it is for certain that there has been an increase of claims

against the mineral since the U.S. surgeon general mandated to add fluoride to our drinking

water.

Environmental effect -

With the constant demand of drinking water due to a growing population, one thing to consider is

how the addition of fluoride effects our environment. Now the mineral fluoride is already found

in some of our drinking water sources, larger and deeper water wells are being created to meet

the demand and higher amounts of fluoride is being found in underwater aquifers. Studies
published by Edward Groth III explained the effects of fluoride in our environment. One study

compared two different rivers in Bozeman, Montana. The above river showed, as containing 0.1

ppm (parts per million) fluoride or less while the river below the citys sewage outfall (the only

fluoride source in the area) was found to have concentrations of 0.3 to 0.8 ppm (Groth, 1975).

In result, fluoride pollution cannot be regulated or monitored due to non-point pollutants like

urban run offs for example.

Fluoridated fish

Thanks to drainage and urban run offs, fluorinated drinking water enters into the ecosystem and

damages our habitat. In the U.S. Northwest for example, a study was published in the North

American Journal of Fisheries Management showing the recent decline in salmon migration. The

water tested found a high amount of fluoride in the bodies of water where the fish once migrated.

The study found at fluoride contamination, resulting from aluminum smelters, were located

above the dam preventing the migration of the fish into that region (Damkaer, 1989). By not

properly evaluating the effects of fluoride in our ecosystem, it alters the way our livestock tends

to move. What we may think is beneficial for us may be affecting our environment negatively.

Conclusion

Water pollution is not a difficult task to control as it may seem. Think of controlling

pollution the same way you control a healthy diet when exercising. When the body has good well

balanced meals it is able to perform at a high level, but when the body is running off of junk food

then the body will start to struggle in maintaining a high functional level based on the low

nutritious food it has in its system. This is why eating in moderation is important in order to keep

the body running smoothly. The same way fluoride should be moderated in our systems. It is

okay to indulge on junk food, just as long as your body does not have too much of that one thing.
The same can be said about water pollution. As long as our water sources are being monitored on

the contents it is being introduced, it will be easier to maintain a well-balanced ecosystem. The

most effective way for controlling pollution results from cooperation between scientist,

legislators, citizens, and industry (Griffin SO, 2001). This is why it is very important to reduce,

reuse, and recycle before pollution can become costly and time consuming.

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