Domestic water treatment appliances and the fluoride ion.
Specific ion metering of fluoride ion levels of water samples obtained after passage through water softeners and a conditioner showed no alteration in concentration when compared with controls. Similar comparison of water samples passed through water filters demonstrated that highly significant amounts of fluoride ion were removed. In one filter tested, 90% of the fluoride content was lost in the filtration process. The findings of this study suggest that, in a household using a filter, it may be necessary to increase the fluoride supplement or in some cases to initiate use of fluoride supplements as children are not receiving as much fluoride as was thought. New guidelines are required to take account of this surprising effect.
Robinson
S N
SN
Department of Orthodontics, Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, Portsmouth.
Davies
E H
EH
Williams
B
B
D005374:Filtration; D005457:Fluoridation; D005459:Fluorides; D006801:Humans; D008280:Magnetics; D006113:United Kingdom; D014880:Water Softening / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014881:Water Supply
D005459:Fluorides