Researchers from Trinity College Dublin collaborated with University College London on a new study comparing the low environmental footprint of water fluoridation to other preventive measures for tooth decay.
Water fluoridation is one of the most significant interventions in public health during the twentieth century. But, as the climate continues to change, considerations must be made on the contribution of healthcare and disease prevention.
Researchers considered the environmental impact of water fluoridation for an individual five-year-old child over a year. This data was then compared to the traditional use of fluoride varnish and toothbrushing programmes taking place across schools in the UK and internationally.
Across the world, 35 per cent of the population have access to water fluoridation, with studies showing significant reductions in dental caries. Whilst data on the clinical effectiveness and cost analysis of water fluoridation exists, previously no data has existed on it's environmental impact.
To determine the environmental impact, the team performed a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) by measuring the travel, weight and amounts of all products and the processes involved in all three preventative programmes (toothbrushing, fluoride varnish, and water fluoridation).
The Ecoinvent database was then used to collate the data and calculate the environmental outputs including the carbon footprint, water used per product and land used.
Led by Brett Duane, associate professor in Dental Public Health at Trinity College, the team concluded that water fluoridation had the lowest environmental impact across the categories. For return-on-investment, water fluoridation was the best option.
Brett Duane said, “As the climate crisis starts to worsen, we need to find ways of preventing disease to reduce the environmental impact of our health systems. This research clearly demonstrates the low carbon impact of water fluoridation as an effective prevention tool.”
Read the study here: http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41415-022-4251-5