An unexpected consequence of the election of Donald Trump as president of the United States is the return to public debate of an old American public health measure: water fluoridation. Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who is expected to become the future Secretary of Health, the equivalent of the Minister of Health in France, is not only a notorious anti-vaccine, but is also a staunch opponent of adding fluoride to tap water. stating that this practice is associated with “arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, loss of IQ [QI]neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid diseases ».
Although some of these claims are not scientifically supported, in particular the relationship between exposure to fluoride and the appearance of cancer, more and more scientific studies and official reports question the relevance of this practice that is still in force in twenty-four countries around the world. . , including Australia, Canada and Malaysia, but almost non-existent in Europe.
Fight against cavities
In the United States, 62.8% of the population has access to tap water supplemented with fluoride. The decision is made at the local level, generally by the municipality, to add fluorinated salts such as sodium fluoride, more easily soluble than calcium fluoride, naturally present in the environment, to the water, or to other compounds such as acid fluorosilicic acid or fluorosilicic acid. fluorosilicate.
This practice has become popular on the other side of the Atlantic since the end of World War II to fight tooth decay. Because fluoride has the peculiarity of adhering to tooth enamel, reinforcing this natural mineral barrier against the bacteria responsible for cavities. Since then, numerous studies have shown its effectiveness in combating this extremely common infection. So much so that in 1999 the US government agency, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), included water fluoridation among the top ten public health achievements of the 20th century.my century in the United States.
But it’s all a matter of dosage. Consumed in too high quantities, especially in childhood, fluoride can cause white or even brown spots on the enamel of the teeth and make them brittle. This is fluorosis. At very high concentration levels, fluoride can also bind to bones and stiffen joints. For this reason, the World Health Organization (WHO) has set 1.5 milligrams per liter (mg/l) as the threshold beyond which the concentration of fluoride, including natural fluoride, can be dangerous. In the United States, it was historically recommended to stay within a range of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/l, until the 2015 review, setting the limit at 0.7 mg/l. “optimal fluoride concentration” to combat the increase in fluorosis in the country.
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