Chemical hazards in drinking-water - fluoride

Fluoride is considered in the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality. You can link from here to:

The Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality also consider for individual chemicals:

Rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality

Fluoride is included in the plan of work of the rolling revision of the WHO Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality.

Background

The GDWQ FTF meeting (Geneva, 2003) noted that when the NAS report on effects on bone becomes available, the need for review of fluoride will be reconsidered.

Expected end-product(s)

Revised background document, for Fourth Edition; expanded summary statements for Volume 1, for second addendum of Third Edition

Progress to date

The NAS report was released in 2006. It does not generally provide major new information but suggests that high fluoride intakes may also correlate with an increased risk of bone fracture in later life. The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2004) agreed that if the background document is to be revised at that time, it will take essentiality into account. The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2005) agreed to formally place fluoride on the rolling revision and developed a plan of work. The GDWQ WG meeting (Geneva, 2006) approved the expanded summary statement on fluoride, with amendments, for inclusion in the second addendum and suggested a path forward for preparation of a revised background document for the Fourth Edition.

Recent publication

Other publications of interest

• Chemical safety of drinking-water: assessing priorities for risk management (in preparation)
• Protecting groundwater for health: managing the quality of drinking-water sources (in preparation)
• Protecting surface waters for health (in preparation)