MWRA - Fluoride in Drinking Water

Fluoride in MWRA Drinking Water
Massachusetts Water Resources Authority

MWRA maintains a target fluoride level of 1.0 part per million in the drinking water as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other prominent organizations. The strong position taken by the CDC, one of the world’s leading public health institutions, is important to understanding MWRA’s addition of fluoride to reduce tooth decay and promote community public health.

CDC recently published a report, Ten Great Public Health Achievements — United States 1900-1999, that listed fluoridation of public water supplies to reduce dental cavities as one of the leading public health achievements of the entire century.

The summary of CDC’s views is included in the document: Achievements in Public Health, 1900 to 1999: Fluoridation to Prevent Dental Cavities .The CDC is highly regarded for their scientific expertise and objectivity, and it is important to us that their position on fluoridation is unequivocal.

MORE INFORMATION

CDC UPDATE: 04/11/06
In response to the recent National Academy of Sciences Study, the Centers for Disease Control has issued a statement reiterating its recommendation that water flouridation is a safe, effective and inexpensive way to prevent tooth decay.

CDC Recommendations for Using Fluoride to Prevent and Control Dental Cavities in the United States: http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5014a1.htm

ADA Information on Fluoride
http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/index.asp

Mass DPH Oral Health Program
http://www.mass.gov/dph/fch/ooh.htm

Statewide list of communities adding fluoride http://www.mass.gov/Eeohhs2/docs/dph/com_health/flouride_census.pdf

Our approach is reinforced by the views of other organizations with strong public health and medical credentials that also support fluoridation including the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, World Health Organization, and the American Dental Association.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets fluoride standards to guard drinking water safety. For fluoride, 4.0 parts per million is the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal, the level below which there is no known or expected risk to health.

MWRA maintains a target fluoride level of 1.0 ppm, as recommended by the CDC, MDPH, ADA, and WHO, and continuously monitors the levels. MWRA has fluoridated at this level for over 20 years MWRA is aware that a number of people across the country are raising questions about fluoride in drinking water. MWRA intends to keep an open-minded view on any matters of technical competency, and we will pay close attention to competing viewpoints. But it is doubtful that MWRA’s position will change so long as the CDC, MDPH, and others continue to support fluoridation and its benefits.

Updated September 20, 2007