Contribution to the ongoing discussion on fluoride toxicity
Archives of Toxicology (2021) 95:2571–2587
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-021-03072-6
Published online: 6 June 2021
© The Author(s) 2021
Introduction
Since the 1940s, fuoride has been added to drinking water in many countries as a means of caries prophylaxis. Fluo ride prevents caries at low exposure levels, whereas, exces sive fuoride exposure causes dental and skeletal fuorosis in humans, and developmental toxicity in animals. Based on this background, the European Food Safety Author ity (EFSA) defned an adequate intake (AI) level for fuo ride of 50 µg/kg b.w. at which the caries preventive efect approached its maximum whilst the risk of dental fluorosis approached its minimum (EFSA 2013). In recent years, the benefts and risks of fuoride exposure to the general popula tion, e.g. by drinking water, fuoridated salt or dental care products, have been heavily debated, and special focus is set on potential adverse health efects, such as neurodevel opmental toxicity.