Table of contents:
- What is fluoride?
- Is it true that fluoride is harmful to health?
- How many doses of fluoride are still considered healthy?
- Effects of excessive fluoride consumption
- Safe the bottled water we drink?
Some time ago, the Indonesian people were shocked by the news about the dangerous fluoride content in bottled water. No matter who started this news for the first time, thousands of people have shared the article on their social media pages about how bottled water containing fluoride can cause various negative effects such as bone cancer, decreased IQ in children, and others.
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a chemical substance that can be found in nature, found in 0.3 grams of fluoride in every 1 kg of the earth's crust. Fluoride can be found in various forms, such as hydrogen fluoride, sodium fluoride and many more. It can be gas, liquid, or solid, generally fluoride is colorless or white in color and dissolves in water. Fluoride can be found in drinking water naturally or because it is added intentionally by the manufacturer.
The fluoride content in the water we consume varies widely, groundwater that passes through the mountains will usually mineralize naturally and will contain fluoride. The level of fluoride content depends on the rocks and minerals that it passes through. After drinking or eating, almost all of the fluoride will be absorbed by our digestion, enter the bloodstream, and stored in the bones or teeth.
Is it true that fluoride is harmful to health?
To say that fluoride is dangerous is not completely wrong. In large doses, fluoride can be harmful to health, but in small doses, fluoride can actually benefit us. Fluoride is added to bottled water or toothpaste because it can prevent tartar and cavities. Fluoride also benefits bone health. The addition of fluoride is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to prevent dental caries, so the USA Health Department recommends adding fluoride in bottled water. As a result, there has been a significant reduction in the incidence of dental caries in the last 70 years after fluoride addition in the USA.
A dose of 0.7 mg / liter is sufficient to provide a good effect on bones and teeth. However, excessive doses can actually cause bone and tooth decay. Tooth fluorosis, enamel disorders caused by excessive fluoride consumption, occurs when the fluoride content in water ranges from 1.5-2 mg / liter, depending on how much a person drinks the water. Dental fluorosis often occurs in children aged 22-26 months where there is growth and mineralization of teeth. In addition, excessive consumption can also cause acute fluoride poisoning which can occur if you consume fluoride as much as> 1 g per kg of body weight.
How many doses of fluoride are still considered healthy?
Responding to this condition, in 1984 and 1993 WHO set a standard for fluoride content in bottled water not to exceed 1.5 mg / liter. Exceeding this standard limit can lead to the risk of dental fluorosis, to an even greater extent can lead to bone fluorosis.
In Indonesia itself, through the Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No. 492 / Menkes / Per / IV / 2010 concerning the requirements for the quality of drinking water, the fluoride content in drinking water should not exceed 1.5 mg / L, even tighter limits are set by SNI 01-3553-2006 concerning Bottled Drinking Water, it is stated that that the fluoride content in mineral water should not exceed 1 mg / L.
Effects of excessive fluoride consumption
Excessive consumption of fluoride is actually dangerous, and can cause problems, both in teeth, bones and other organs.
Nervous system
A study in China stated that there was a decrease in IQ in children who drank water with a fluoride content of 2.5-4 mg / L.
Hormonal system
Excessive consumption of fluoride can also cause a decrease in thyroid hormone, an increase in parathyroid hormone and calcitonin, and impair glucose tolerance.
Reproduction system
Animal studies have concluded that very high levels of fluoride can interfere with the growth of the reproductive system, but the effects in humans still require further research.
Other organs
Animal studies have concluded that fluoride greater than 4mg / L irritates the digestive organs, damaging the liver and kidneys. Whereas in humans, high fluoride levels are not recommended for people with kidney disease.
Safe the bottled water we drink?
SNI 01-3553-2006 stipulates that the fluoride content in bottled water is <0.5 mg / L. Bottled water that meets the above standards usually has this SNI label and number. So, make sure you choose good, standardized bottled water.
