Benefits and Risks of Water Fluoridation - Research Proposal Example

Risks and Benefits of Water Fluoridation [Name of the Student] [Name of the University] [Word Count: ] Benefits and Risks of Water Fluoridation Introduction This report examines the benefits and risks to health of water fluoridation with a special focus on Australian public health. In this regard, relevant literature has been reviewed. Most of these studies support fluoridation, as it improves the oral health of the public. Nevertheless, controversies regarding water fluoridation persist, since it causes health hazards upon being effected in larger quantities. This report scrutinises the issues relating to water fluoridation and provides conclusions and recommendations to the water authorities, for refuting the claims of the community. In this regard, relevant information has been collected from academic books, authoritative journals, public documents and other reliable sources. Fluoride constitutes a crucial element for populations to develop and preserve good dental health. It exerts considerable influence, at the atomic level, upon the demineralisation equilibrium at the surface of the tooth. This is achieved through different means, such as diminishing the ability of saliva to solvate the tooth mineral, decreasing the apatite phase’s solubility, and facilitating the process of mineralisation. In addition, fluoridation could affect oral biofilms’ bacterial populations, by impeding their enzyme activity[Nic08]. Moreover, fluoridation has been recognised as being safe and effective by several public health agencies. Furthermore, fluoridation of water provides several benefits. With regard to the South East Queensland region, it has been predicted that fluoridation would improve the population’s dental health significantly, and reduce the cost of dental caries treatment dramatically. As such, there exists considerable evidence that dental caries can be prevented by enhancing drinking water fluoride levels[Cik10]. Implementing fluoridation, throughout the nation, would constitute an efficient and safe method for diminishing dental caries occurrence. As such, potable water fluoridation is the best method, as well as a socially equitable process, for dealing with the incidence of caries. This process produces substantial change in oral health, in a relatively short period of time. It improves the oral health of children, regardless of their socioeconomic origin, which is very important due to the presence of significant socio-economic disparity in oral health[Cro154]. Nevertheless, contamination of groundwater with fluoride has been regarded as a major issue worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) has categorised arsenic, fluoride, and nitrate, as contaminants of water meant for consumption by individuals. In several regions of the world, enhanced fluoride concentrations have been noticed in groundwater[Kum11]. Literature Review The Australian Drinking Water Guidelines (ADWG) stipulates the framework that governs the provision of safe drinking water in the nation. Its guideline value for fluoride is the concentration or measure of a water quality trait that does not lead to significant risk to the consumer’s health over a lifetime of consumption. The health-related value for fluoride has been fixed at 1.5mg/L, and levels from 1.5 to 2.0 mg/L are expected to enhance the danger of dental fluorosis. Moreover, the ADWG maximum value of 1.5 mg/L is higher than the 0.6 to 1.1 mg/ L range employed in Australia[Den14]. The debates regarding the benefits or otherwise of water fluoridation are fundamentally moulded by history and values regarding the function of fluoride as a crucial preventive measure, vis-à-vis, oral health care. The supporters of water fluoridation contend that 1 part per million (ppm) is the optimal concentration. In this context, they refer to the proliferation of water fluoridation in Australia, US, UK and other nations. These proponents have brought to the fore the fact that no health problems have emerged in the West Midlands of the UK after the employment of fluoridation. Those who oppose fluoridation refer to the disadvantages associated with fluoride, such as toxic chemical waste; associations with aluminium smelting and nuclear industries; fluoride poisoning; and several health issues, including fluorosis, cancer and neuro-toxicological problems [Pec12]. In addition, the Australian review of National Health and Medical Research Council had cited a systematic review, which had revealed an increase in fluorosis with increasing concentration of fluorine (F) in water. This was reported as 17% at 0 to 0.3 to 0.7 to Read More