Fluoridation of Public Water Supplies and Its Relation to Musculoskeletal Diseases

Abstract

The fluoride content in parts/1,000,000 of ash was estimated in 18 various bone samples from 14 patients with different forms of arthritis and from 1 patient who did not have arthritis, all of whom had ingested fluoridated water for a period ranging from 3 years and 5 months to 4 years and 7 months. No excessively high concentration of fluoride was found in any of these specimens. From residents of a nonfluoridated area similar test were done and the fluoride concentration was not significantly different. Therefore, the study fails to reveal and relation between various forms of arthritis and the ingestion of fluoridated water as recommended by the health authorities.