Water Authority of Great Neck North

FLUORIDATION NOT NECESSARY

FLUORIDATION OF COMMUNITY WATER IS NO LONGER NECESSARY

Hailed by the Centers for Disease Control in 1999 as one of the top 10 achievements in public health, the fluoridation of community water is no longer considered a priority or even desirable.

Fluoride was added to water to prevent tooth decay. However, the 2006 National Academy of Sciences report “Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA Standard” indicated that the predominant advantage from fluoride is from topical application (e.g. toothpaste, fluoride treatments) rather than ingestion.

Other recent studies indicate that health effects associated with low-to-moderate does of fluoride include dental fluorosis (tooth decay), bone fracture, joint pain, eczema, reduced thyroid activity, bone cancer, IQ deficits, premature puberty and dementia-like effects in animals.

Fluoride has not been added to drinking water on Long Island for the past ten years. Fluoride occurs naturally in water in very small amounts that are usually much lower than the level artificially added in water fluoridation programs. One way to avoid fluoride from the tap is to purchase a “reverse-osmosis” or “activated alumina” water filter.

The Water Authority continues to monitor all developments regarding water safety and purity to ensure that its customers receive the safest water possible.