Review of 2006 USNRC report on Fluoride in drinking water Carton

Research Council (NRC) examined the scientific basis for the Maximum Contaminant Level Goal (MCLG) of fluoride in drinking water promulgated in 1985 by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Due to misdirection by EPA management, who requested the report, the NRC committee identified only health effects known with total certainty. This is contrary to the intent of the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), which requires the EPA to determine “whether any adverse effects can be reasonably anticipated, even though not proved to exist. ” Further misdirection by EPA consisted of instructing the committee not to identify a new MCLG—in other words, not to determine a safe level of fluoride in drinking water, and not to discuss silicofluorides, phosphate fertilizer manufacturing by-products used in most cities to fluoridate their water. Despite these restrictions, the committee broke new ground declaring severe dental fluorosis and moderate (stage II) skeletal fluorosis adverse health effects, and by noting that the current standard of 4 mg F/L in drinking water does not protect against bone fractures or severe dental fluorosis. Silicofluorides were said to need health effects testing. The NRC review includes extensiv