Under the Safe Drinking Water Act, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to establish the concentrations of contaminants that are permitted in public drinking-water systems. A public water system is defined by EPA as a “system for the provision to the public of water for human consumption through pipes or other constructed conveyances, if such system has at least fifteen service connections or regularly serves at least twenty-five individuals” (63 Fed. Reg. 41940 [1998]). Section 1412 of the act, as amended in 1986, requires EPA to publish maximum-contaminant-level goals (MCLGs) and promulgate national primary drinking-water regulations (maximum contaminant levels [MCLs]) for contaminants in drinking water that might cause …show more content…
Another issue of controversy is the safety of the chemicals used to fluoridate water. The most commonly used additives are silicofluorides, not the fluoride salts used in dental products (such as sodium fluoride and stannous fluoride). Silicofluorides are one of the by-products from the manufacture of phosphate fertilizers. The toxicity database on silicofluorides is sparse and questions have been raised about the assumption that they completely dissociate in water and, therefore, have toxicity similar to the fluoride salts tested in laboratory studies and used in consumer products (Coplan and Masters 2001). It also has been maintained that, because of individual variations in exposure to fluoride, it is difficult to ensure that the right individual dose to protect against dental caries is provided through large-scale water fluoridation. In addition, a body of information has developed that indicates the major anticaries benefit of fluoride is topical and not systemic (Zero et al. 1992; Rölla and Ekstrand 1996; Featherstone 1999; Limeback 1999a; Clarkson and McLoughlin 2000; CDC 2001; Fejerskov …show more content…
If left untreated, pulp infection can lead to abscess, destruction of bone, and systemic infection (Cawson et al. 1982; USDHHS 2000). Various sources have concluded that water fluoridation has been an effective method for preventing dental decay (Newbrun 1989; Ripa 1993; Horowitz 1996; CDC 2001; Truman et al. 2002). Water fluoridation is supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as one of the 10 great public health achievements in the United States, because of its role in reducing tooth decay in children and tooth loss in adults (CDC 1999). Each U.S. Surgeon General has endorsed water fluoridation over the decades it has been practiced, emphasizing that “[a] significant advantage of water fluoridation is that all residents of a community can enjoy its protective benefit…. A person’s income level or ability to receive dental care is not a barrier to receiving fluoridation’s health benefits” (Carmona 2004). As noted earlier, this report does not evaluate nor make judgments about the benefits, safety, or efficacy of artificial water fluoridation. That practice is reviewed only in terms of being a source of exposure to
A federal law that was enacted in 1974 to protect contaminated water supplies to the public was called the Safe Drinking Water Act. Through this law the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is given the authority to oversee water suppliers throughout the US and set standards for the contaminants contained in water supplies. Prior to 1974, State health departments had the principal duty for monitoring and regulating public consuming water substances. The U.S. Public health provider supplied oversight till 1970. At that point, EPA assumed the federal regulatory position. Although, the public health carrier issued protection standards in 1962, simply 14 States had followed them through 1972.
Fluoridation of group drinking water is a main consideration in charge of the decrease in dental caries (tooth rot) . The historical backdrop of water fluoridation is a great case of clinical perception prompting epidemiologic examination and group based general wellbeing intercession. Albeit other fluoride-containing items are accessible, water fluoridation remains the most fair and practical strategy for conveying fluoride to all individuals from most groups, paying little respect to age, instructive achievement, or wage level.
According to World Health Organization data obtained from a study on 12 year old’s levels of tooth decay, fluoride has had very little effect, if any at all, on tooth decay. Countries such as Japan, Italy, and Iceland, who are non-fluoridated countries, actually have about the same level of tooth decay decrease as countries that have fluoridated water. Fluoride is considered a drug, according to the FDA, which means that it is a medical treatment. Medical treatments are not to be given unless the patient agrees to the treatment, therefore, placing fluoride into the public water supply violates informed consent seeing as how citizens are not given the opportunity to vote on the matter. Even if people could vote on the situation, not all people are going to agree with and since it is considered a drug, it
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommendation for the optimal fluoride level in drinking water to prevent tooth decay have changed from 0.7 -1.2 milligrams per liter stablished in 1962 to 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water. This change was the result of a systematic reviews of the scientific evidence related community water fluoridation since it was incorporated in 1945. As a result of community water fluoridation there was an increase in the percentage of children who were caries-free and a significant decreases in the number of teeth or tooth surfaces with caries in both children and adult. The main reason to lower the recommendation was because Americans nowadays have more sources of fluoride than the ones
In those case the person have to control the levels of fluorides because in most cases the levels are greater than FDA/CDC recommend but most people don't treat their water to lower the amount of fluoridation. In the case cities water systems fluoridation is monitored and adjusted to meet certain standards, low enough not to cause harm yet high enough to aid in preventing tooth decay. Tooth decay is a big health problem if not controlled. Which one the the water supply systems did you read about that was causing the health
The current data suggests that water fluoridation disproportionately harms low-income and minority communities. In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control released the results of a national survey of dental fluorosis, which was conducted between 1999 and 2002. According to the results, in the U.S., African American children have significantly higher rates of dental fluorosis.2 Same observation has been made in other studies as well. Another study conduced in Indianapolis, Indiana, shows that “the prevalence of dental fluorosis in African American children (80.1%) was significantly higher than in Whites (62.5%). 3
I would like to offer my comments involving an EPA regulation and how it can be improved. I believe that the Safe Drinking Water Act is not producing water that is safe enough for all Americans to drink, while leading many to believe that the water that they are drinking is as clean as possible. This is shown very clearly by the water that is produced in Flint, Michigan. This water is visibly discolored by the lead and other contaminants that are in the water and there a=have been many reports of children and adults who are suffering some serious symptoms of lead-poisoning. Despite these very real negative effects of the lack of proper filterage of this water, there is very little that can be done because the water technically meets the standards that are put out by the Safe Drinking and Water Act.
The City of Lake County is acceptable to many Floridians the state’s with fourth largest lake was known for a world-class bass fishery and many lake beaches for outdoors family reaction. The Safe Drinking Water Act is the principal federal law in the United States that ensures safe drinking water for the public. Drinking water quality is an important public health issue. Community water systems in the U.S. vary greatly in size, and service from twenty-five to over a million people a day. If contamination occurs in a single water system, it has the potential to expose many people at once. The known facts to the act Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is required to set standards for drinking water quality and oversee all states, localities,
This includes the Clean Water Act of 1972, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), and the Safe Drinking Water Act. These acts aim to provide government regulations on chemical and biological elements and their disposals. The Safe Drinking Water Act emphasizes on setting the drinking water disinfection and regulation standards. This Act was amended twice in 1986 and in 1996 to extend the act’s reach. For instance, 1986 amendment banned the lead pipe usage in the future building, which is often seen as a tremendous move. Nevertheless, some people believe that the act is useful but requires further changes and improvements. Reasons why people hold this belief is due to the fact that over 5,000 water facilities fail to follow to rules and standards that the Safe Drinking Act has set. For example, the city of Flint did not report their lead contamination, which illustrates that the Act still has a lot to
The main form of protection against caries is fluoride. Fluoride is of the utmost importance because it helps teeth remineralize, and slows down the progression of caries. Among one of the studies done to determine whether or not fluoride has a protective effect against caries, Dr. Douglass of University of Connecticut School of Dental Medicine has found that fluoride significantly decreases cavities (2). Her study shows that the odds ratio for caries incidence between fluoridated teeth versus non-fluoridated teeth was 3.8 (95% CI: 1.9, 7.6). Additionally, she found a significant decrease in DFS (decayed/filled) scores for cavitated lesions with high fluoride treatment compared to no treatment at all. This article helps prove that fluoride applied to teeth is a protective factor against
I agree with you about the fluoride is the most preventive material we use. I believe that as future dental hygienists be need to be well aware of the benefits of fluoride to use it when it is needed and to educate our patients. The fact that it is available in so many different forms such as toothpastes, mouth rinses, gels and foams, makes it more affordable to the
Fluoridation is the process of adding controlled amounts of fluoride to a public water supply. The purpose for fluoridation is to reduce the most common chronic disease worldwide, tooth decay, also known as dental caries. Apart from the visually unappealing affects of tooth decay, it also causes more serious affects, such as pain when eating or speaking. Once a cavity is identified, one of the most common methods of treatment is a tooth filling that last for about ten to fourteen years.
This being because the company (companies) is driven by profits and not the well being of the general public. Doing this will usually result in the compromise in the environmental standard. The NAWC (The National Association of Water Companies), the representors of the U.S. of the private water industry keeps trying to put a stop to the congress and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from raising the water quality standards. I’m sorry if the typing and or grammar isn’t right. And to change the regulations based on cost benefit analysis, which compromises the public health for the sake of the company getting more money.
Shortly thereafter, he noticed that a high amount of children had splotchy brown stains on their teeth. After many years of research, he discovered that an excess amount of natural fluoride coming from their drinking water was the cause of the disease we now know today as fluorosis, but Dr. Mckay, along with another with other top dental hygienists concluded that putting a tiny amount of fluoride in the water would help prevent overall tooth decay, and they eventually got their wish.
The combined use of biannual fluoride application and high concentration fluoride toothpaste reduced the occurrence and progress of caries measured according to ICDAS system in high caries risk children.