Several local water systems are facing fluoride shortages due to supply chain disruptions attributed to the Iran war.
Six notes:
1. The Washington Suburban Sanitary Company, which serves two counties in Maryland, is temporarily reducing the level of fluoride added to its drinking water from approximately 0.7 milligrams per liter to 0.4 milligrams per liter due to the shortage.
2. WSSC said April 7 that reduced domestic production of hydrofluorosilicic acid as well as reduced output from other producers, including a major supplier in Israel, has led to supply chain disruptions.
3. Borough officials in Hanover, Pa., also sought to temporarily pause the addition of fluoride after its water system was unable to find a supplier, the Evening Sun reported March 26.
4. Tony Thomas, Hanover’s director of water and wastewater treatment, told officials that one water treatment company declined to sign a supply contract because it was unable to source the fluoride needed. The borough ended up receiving a shipment of fluoride from another supplier that said it was not experiencing a shortage.
5. Mr. Thomas told the Evening Sun that while he was not given a clear reason as to why some suppliers are facing a shortage, one company informed him that suppliers who source their fluoride from Israel could be seeing fewer exports of the mineral due to the ongoing military conflict.
6. Lititz, Pa., also paused their use of fluoride in March, citing a shortage of materials needed for fluoridation. The borough later resumed water fluoridation after receiving another shipment.
Becker’s has contacted the American Fluoridation Society and the American Dental Association to get additional information on the fluoride shortage and will update this article if more information becomes available.
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