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JERUSALEM: Israel’s Minister of Health, Yael German, has initiated the discontinuation of fluoridating drinking water. Despite criticism from other politicians and a number of health groups, German decided to follow the example of many other countries and end the practice.
Fluoridation of drinking water has been controversial for a long time. In accurate doses, it can benefit oral health. However, according to the World Health Organization, the effects of an overdose of fluoride can range from mild dental fluorosis to crippling skeletal fluorosis. Clinical dental fluorosis is characterised by staining and pitting of the teeth. In more severe cases, all the enamel may be damaged. In skeletal fluorosis, fluoride accumulates in the bone over many years, leading to stiffness and pain in the joints. In severe cases, it can cause changes to bone structure, calcification of ligaments, and crippling effects, WHO stated.
As reported by online newspaper The Times of Israel, Israel originally mandated water fluoridation in 1970 for population centres with 5,000 or more residents and had successfully fluoridated 70 per cent of the public’s water supply. Fluoridation in Israel was stopped on 26 August 2014.
German announced her plans to end public fluoridation only shortly after being appointed health minister in March 2013, which resulted in protests from public health experts and government officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In response, German mandated that fluoridation would continue for population centres that opted for the programme, the newspaper reported.
However, fluoridation is now no longer optional. Doctors had advised her that fluoridation may be harmful to pregnant women, people with thyroid problems and the elderly, German explained.
Besides Israel, Finland, Germany, Japan, the Netherlands and Sweden are among the countries that do not fluoridate drinking water.
