| [영국] 식수에 포함된 불소, 치아 건강 향상
최근 보고서에 따르면 상수도에 불소를 더하면 치아건강을 향상 할 수 있다고 밝혔다. 나라의 10%는 수돗물 불소 첨가지역에 산다. 이 지역의 불소 수준은 리터당 1mg 정도 되고 불소의 최대 양은 식수에서 리터당 1.5mg이 허용된다.
Public Health England는 식수에 불소가 포함된 지역에 사는 아이들은 그렇지 않은 아이들보다 충치 발생률이 낮다고 발표했다. 그러나 불소가 포함된 지역에 사는 28% 5세 미만의 아이들은 그렇지 않은 아이들보다 충치가 발생률이 높았다. 이러한 결과 PHE는 결핍과 인종도 치아 건강의 중요한 요소라고 설명했다.
[원문보기]
Smile! Increase fluoridation in England's water supplies, urges report
Dental health could be improved across England if fluoride is added to more water supplies, a new report has urged.
Currently, around 10% (6 million) of the country live in areas with water fluoridation schemes in place. In these parts the level of fluoride is adjusted to 1 mg per litre (1 part per million).The maximum amount of fluoride permitted in drinking water in 1.5 mg per litre.
Public Health England (PHE) said that there is evidence to show that children living in areas where fluoride is added to drinking water have less tooth decay than those in areas without.
With deprivation and ethnicity taken into account two factors in dental health the report said that 28% fewer five year olds have tooth decay in fluoridated areas than non-fluoridated areas.
Although fluoridation has been more popular in countries such as Australia and the US, England is one of a few countries in Europe that adds fluoride to water.
Following pilot schemes, the first substantive water fluoridation scheme was introduced in Birmingham in 1964.
In the US the first scheme was introduced in 1945, in the city of Grand Rapids, Michigan. Over 200 million US citizens are now said to drink water which has the level of fluoride adjusted.
However, campaigners have been against widespread fluoridation in many parts of the world, suggesting it can have implications on health.
For example, US campaign group Fluoride Action Network claims the process is 'unethical', saying that fluoride is classified as a drug and there should be informed consent from people taking it in water supplies, as is a standard practise for other medication.
The BBC cited English county Hampshire, which ran into stiff opposition with campaigners over attempts to fluoride its water supply.
PHE addressed health concerns in the report, saying that there is no evidence of harm to health in fluoridated areas. PHE has found no differences between fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas in their rates of hip fracture, osteosarcoma (a form of bone cancer), cancers overall, Downs syndrome births or all-cause mortality (all recorded causes of death).
As well as adding it to water supplies, fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in water in varying amounts and is also present in some foods. It was in the early 20th century when lower levels of tooth decay were found to be associated with certain fluoride levels in drinking water.
This observation led ultimately to the introduction of water fluoridation schemes to adjust fluoride levels in community water supplies, in an effort to reduce tooth decay in the populations they serve, PHE said.
Sue Gregory, director of dental public health at PHE, said: These findings highlight the important contribution that water fluoridation makes to childrens dental health and general well-being.
The report summary concluded: The report provides further reassurance that water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure.
[출처 = Waterworld / 2014년 3월 25일]
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