Fluoride Facts

The Renal System consists of the kidneys, ureters, bladder, and the urethra. This system’s main function is to eliminate waste in the form of urine. The kidneys filter out wastes such as urea, uric acid, salts, amino acids, ammonia, water, etc. from the blood, via the tiny filtering units called nephrons that make up a kidney.

The kidneys have been speculated to be a potential site for acute fluoride toxicity. Necrosis of proximal and renal tubules, interstitial nephritism and dilation of renal tubules was found in several animal studies that explored the effect of fluoride on the renal system using fluoride concentrations between 100-380 mg/L.

On the other hand, human epidemiological studies found no increase in renal disease even with long term exposure to 8 mg/L a day. It is concluded that a viable threshold dose of fluoride in drinking water for renal toxicity in animals is approximately 50 mg/L, and that renal damage is highly unlikely as the level of exposure required for adverse effects is well above 100x the regulated level in developed countries.