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THE HALO EFFECT The prevalence of dental fluorosis for children both from fluoridated and non-fluoridated communities has increased dramatically in many regions of North America (i.e. see: Clark, 1995; Ismail et al, 1993). Where did all this fluorosis come from? Both pro- and antifluoridationists claim that this is due to the "halo" effect. As water from fluoridated areas makes its way into processed foods and beverages it is then consumed by people in fluoridated areas, as well as nonfluoridated ones. There are several things not adding up with such claims. As dental fluorosis can only occur during the time of enamel formation, a basic step should include investigation of what children actually cossume at such vulnerable ages. How much is the contribution to total fluoride intake? While water added by food processors can be a substantial source of fluoride in certain age groups, it was not found to be a major contributor in children between 1 1/2 and 2 1/2 years of age, considered the most vulnerable time period for fluorosis of the maxillary central incisor teeth (Shulman, 1997). Shulman studied 492 children between 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 years of age with complete three-day food and beverage diaries and found fluoridated water added by food processors in the US contributed only approximtely 4.3 to 14.3 percent of total fluoride intake. [14.3 percent to total fluoride intake from water in the Northeast, 11.9 percent in the North Central, 8.8 percent in the South, and 4.3 percent in the West] How much water do children drink? ============================ Clark DC - "Trends in prevalence of dental fluorosis in North America" Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 22(3):148-52 (1994) Ismail AI, Shoveller J, Langille D, MacInnis WA, McNally M - "Should the drinking water of Truro, Nova Scotia, be fluoridated? Water fluoridation in the 1990s" Community Dent Oral Epidemiol 21(3):118-25(1993) Shulman JD, Lalumandier JA - "Background fluoride intake from processed foods during the vulnerable years" - AAPHD 59th Annual Session Abstracts - J PHD 57 (2)111-123 (1997)
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