Changes in Flouride addition levels.

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http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/20110107a.html

News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Friday, January 7, 2011

Contact: OASH ashmedia@...

EPA isa.jalil@... or

HHS and EPA announce new scientific assessments and actions on fluoride

Agencies working together to maintain benefits of preventing tooth decay

while preventing excessive exposure

WASHINGTON - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today are announcing important steps to

ensure that standards and guidelines on fluoride in drinking water continue to

provide the maximum protection to the American people to support good dental

health, especially in children. HHS is proposing that the recommended level of

fluoride in drinking water can be set at the lowest end of the current optimal

range to prevent tooth decay, and EPA is initiating review of the maximum amount

of fluoride allowed in drinking water.

These actions will maximize the health benefits of water fluoridation, an

important tool in the prevention of tooth decay while reducing the possibility

of children receiving too much fluoride. The Centers for Disease Control and

Prevention named the fluoridation of drinking water one of the ten great public

health achievements of the 20th century.

" One of water fluoridation's biggest advantages is that it benefits all

residents of a community-at home, work, school, or play, " said HHS Assistant

Secretary for Health K. Koh, MD, MPH. " Today's announcement is part of

our ongoing support of appropriate fluoridation for community water systems, and

its effectiveness in preventing tooth decay throughout one's lifetime. "

" Today both HHS and EPA are making announcements on fluoride based on the most

up to date scientific data, " said EPA Assistant Administrator for the Office of

Water, Silva. " EPA's new analysis will help us make sure that people

benefit from tooth decay prevention while at the same time avoiding the unwanted

health effects from too much fluoride. "

HHS and EPA reached an understanding of the latest science on fluoride and its

effect on tooth decay prevention and the development of dental fluorosis that

may occur with excess fluoride consumption during the tooth forming years, age 8

and younger. Dental fluorosis in the United States appears mostly in the very

mild or mild form - as barely visible lacy white markings or spots on the

enamel. The severe form of dental fluorosis, with staining and pitting of the

tooth surface, is rare in the United States.

There are several reasons for the changes seen over time, including that

Americans have access to more sources of fluoride than they did when water

fluoridation was first introduced in the United States in the 1940s. Water is

now one of several sources of fluoride. Other common sources include dental

products such as toothpaste and mouth rinses, prescription fluoride supplements,

and fluoride applied by dental professionals. Water fluoridation and fluoride

toothpaste are largely responsible for the significant decline in tooth decay in

the U.S. over the past several decades.

HHS' proposed recommendation of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water

replaces the current recommended range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams. This updated

recommendation is based on recent EPA and HHS scientific assessments to balance

the benefits of preventing tooth decay while limiting any unwanted health

effects. These scientific assessments will also guide EPA in making a

determination of whether to lower the maximum amount of fluoride allowed in

drinking water, which is set to prevent adverse health effects.

The new EPA assessments of fluoride were undertaken in response to findings of

the National Academies of Science (NAS). At EPA's request, in 2006 NAS reviewed

new data on fluoride and issued a report recommending that EPA update its health

and exposure assessments to take into account bone and dental effects and to

consider all sources of fluoride. In addition to EPA's new assessments and the

NAS report, HHS also considered current levels of tooth decay and dental

fluorosis and fluid consumption across the United States.

The notice of the proposed recommendation will be published in the Federal

Register soon and HHS will accept comments from the public and stakeholders on

the proposed recommendation for 30 days at CWFcomments@.... HHS is

expecting to publish final guidance for community water fluoridation by spring

2011. You may view a prepublication version of the proposed recommendation at

­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2011pres/01/pre_pub_frn_fluorid\

e.html. Comments regarding the EPA documents,Fluoride: Dose-Response Analysis

For Non-cancer Effects and Fluoride: Exposure and Relative Source Contribution

Analysisshould be sent to EPA at FluorideScience@.... The documents can be

found athttp://water.epa.gov/action/advisories/drinking/fluoride_index.cfm

For more information about community water fluoridation, as well as information

for health care providers and individuals on how to prevent tooth decay and

reduce the chance of children developing dental fluorosis,

visithttp://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation. For information about the national

drinking water regulations for fluoride,

visit:http://water.epa.gov/drink/contaminants/basicinformation/fluoride.cfm

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are

available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last revised: January 0