Epidermiological Research

Epidemiological research, research dealing with a large number of people, the occurrence of a specific problem and it's cause, has provided general levels of toxicity believed to be reflective of the general toxicity of fluoride. Levels greater than 32mg/kg, for a seventy kilogram adult are lethal (2). Levels between 8 and 16mg/kg are safely tolerable (2). A dosage of 5mg/kg would be a toxic dose (2). "An acute oral exposure to fluoride may result in nausea, vomiting, hypersalivation, abdominal pain, diarrhea, convulsions, cardiac arrythmias, and coma." (2) Varying degrees of dental and skeletal fluorosis can be expected from prolonged fluoride exposure. Slight discoloration to excessive enamel damage is the result from dental fluorosis. Mild fluorosis, is the discoloration of tooth enamel, is not considered a problem and often occurs in 10 percent of the people consuming fluoridated water (2). People with fluoridated water and with out, have been noticing increasing levels of dental fluorosis. Many studies have concluded that this is probably due to the increased use of fluoride in other products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Table 2, included below, provides a listing of fluoride consumption from drinking water, tooth brushing and diet.

Table # 2 (2)

Skeletal fluorosis involves the accumulation of fluoride in the bone tissue (2). In the early stages skeletal fluorosis gives the bones a more opaque X-ray appearance (2). "In severe stages, crippling effects, pain, stiffness and irregular bone growth may occur" (2).