Does fluoridated water cause kidney disease or affect dialysis patients?
The facts: The National Kidney Foundation in the United States says there’s no risk. Along with major health organisations worldwide, they support water fluoridation. A 1998 Canadian expert panel agreed. They stated that “there is no evidence that low levels (up to 8 mg/l in drinking water) of fluoride are associated with kidney dysfunction or increased mortality from a kidney disorder” and quoted the U.S. Public Health Service, National Research Council, and Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in support of their conclusion. Patients with kidney failure often depend on kidney dialysis. Because they are exposed to extremely high amounts of water during dialysis, the water must have very low levels of minerals and ions. The level of all minerals and ions, including fluoride, is reduced before water is used for kidney dialysis.