FLUORIDE IN DRINKING WATER

The addition of fluoride into drinking water remains one of the hottest topics in the water treatment industry with those for and against the process equally passionate about their stand on the issue.

Fluorine (F) is a powerful and most naturally prevalent oxidizing element of the halogen family with the other members being chlorine, iodine, bromine and astatine. Being so prevalent in the earth’s crust it is found naturally in our food chain in carrots, green leafy vegetables, nuts, garlic, tea, many processed breakfast cereals, fish and shell fish. Well waters often contain natural trace amounts as do bottled beverages made from such well water sources. Nature in its infinite wisdom wants us to have these natural fluoride sources for tooth, bone and brain health. Pesticides utilizing fluoride have increased the levels of fluoride.

The negative reactions to fluoride seem to center around the source of the fluoride and the level of consumption. Natural fluoride exists as calcium fluoride (CaF2) and sodium fluoride (NaF2). The sources of fluoride as added to water supplies are reported to be fluorosilicic acid sodium silicofluoride which are industrial byproducts from the fertilizer and metal industries and are considered to be toxic in their concentrated form. Current optimal fluoride ingestion from all sources for a healthy adult should be 3-4 mg/day. The concern is that we may be getting this or more in our diet without the addition to drinking water and the addition may put us over the top where it will then accumulate in our systems and become detrimental to our health.

If you wish to reduce fluoride in your drinking water you have some options.

• Bottled water. Beware. Many bottled waters come from municipal supplies that may or may not be fluoridated and may only be filtered or passed through ultraviolet light neither of which will remove fluoride.
• Reverse osmosis. 75% to 95% reduction depending on system design, water pressure and water chemistry.
• Hydroxyl Apatite media filtration. 75% to 95% reduction depending on flow rates and equipment design
• Activated alumina media filtration. Reasonably effective but only in a narrow band of water pH values.

Information on fluoride in drinking water, how to remove fluoride from water, fluoride removal, fluoride filters, water filters for fluoride, fluoride in San Diego Water, fluoride in Vista Water.

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