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Wed Mar 22, 11:06 AM ET


WASHINGTON - The high levels of fluoride that occur naturally in some
drinking water can cause tooth and bone damage and should be reduced,
the     National Research Council said Wednesday.


The study did not analyze the benefits or risks of adding fluoride to
drinking water. Instead it looked at the current maximum limit of 4
milligrams per liter. Approximately 200,000 people live in communities
where that level occurs naturally in water.

The Council suggested further studies to establish a new maximum
level, but noted that the problems associated with exposure to
fluoride are very small at 2 milligrams per liter and less.
Approximately 1.4 million people have drinking water with natural
fluoride levels of 2.0 to 3.9 milligrams per liter, said the Council,
an arm of the     National Academy of Sciences.

More than 160 million Americans live in communities with artificially
fluoridated water, which contains between 0.7 and 1.2 milligrams of
fluoride per liter.

Fluoride is added to water to help strengthen the teeth.

Drinking water with levels above the maximum can cause tooth
discoloration and weaken the enamel, and long-term accumulation in the
bones can result in an increase in fractures, the Council reported.

The National Academy of Sciences is an independent organization
chartered by Congress to advise the government on scientific matters.
The study was requested by the     Environmental Protection Agency.

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