Fluoridated water has been around for about 50 years.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) considers fluoridation one of the 10 great health advancements of the 20th century, claiming that the practice is safe and effective for preventing tooth decay.  However, over the past few years or so there has been some speculation whether or not fluoridated water can do more harm than good.

At a low concentration, fluoride can be good for our teeth, helping to fight against cavities and keeping our teeth strong.  But at higher levels, fluoride can actually be toxic, causing weak bones, thyroid problems, bone cancer, and other serious health problems.  There have been reports of malfunctioning fluoridation systems poisoning residents, but more alarming than malfunctioning systems, the National Academy or Sciences (NAS) believes that current allowable levels of fluoride in tap water is actually too high and suggest that in the interest of public health, those levels should be lowered.  The Environmental Working Group (EWG) suggests that water should not be fluoridated and that fluoride exposure be limited to toothpaste.

The EWG suggests that the population at greatest risk of fluoride poisoning are infants.  They speculate that up to one-third of bottle-fed infants age 6 months or less are being over-dosed on fluoride everyday, a situation which may cause dental fluorosis.

Besides the negative impacts of excessive fluoride in our bodies, the effects of fluoridated water on our environment has to be considered.  Think of all the fluoridated water that goes down the drain, down the toilet, and out the spigot.  Fluoride in the environment can be very detrimental.  Fluoride has been shown to be toxic to various forms of vegetation, permeating their very cell walls and concentrating in leaves and causing cell death of the leaf.

Fish are also harmed by fluoridated water and fluoride in the environment.  Studies have found that small amounts of fluoride can cause salmon and rainbow trout to act lethargic, dazed and confused.  The National Marine Fisheries Service discovered that fluoride caused salmon to become too impaired to traverse a fishway.  50% of the salmon swimming in the fluoridated waterway died before they made the trip.  When fluoride emissions were reduced, the salmon death rate was reduced ten-fold.

If you are worried about fluoride and how it is harmful to our environment, then look to using filtered water or bottled water.  You can also find filters that hook up directly to your water faucet and will filter the water as you use it.  This is a great alternative because the water you do not use will go down the drain, but it will not be harmful to the environment!  Take the time to learn about what you can do to help save the environment and what fluoride does to the environment and its inhabitants, once you know, you might want to start making some changes, and making your life green.