Public health officials say parents with children aged seven and under should pay particular attention to fluoride exposure.
Southwestern Public Health is reminding residents in parts of Oxford County to be mindful of naturally occurring fluoride and sodium levels in municipal drinking water, as they may pose a concern for certain individuals.
Public health officials say parents with children aged seven and under should pay particular attention to fluoride exposure, as elevated levels can lead to dental fluorosis, a condition that causes discolouration of the teeth. While fluoride levels up to 2.4 milligrams per litre are considered safe to drink, levels above 1.5 milligrams per litre may increase the risk of fluorosis in young children.
Recent sampling has shown fluoride levels above 1.5 milligrams per litre in the communities of Brownsville, Ingersoll, Lakeside, Mount Elgin, and Oxford South. Southwestern Public Health recommends that households with young children in these areas reduce other sources of fluoride, such as switching to non-fluoride toothpaste, if municipal water is their primary drinking source.
Sodium levels in drinking water are also being flagged, though officials note this is only a concern for residents on sodium-restricted diets. This includes individuals with kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, or liver disease, who are encouraged to speak with their health-care provider about how sodium in drinking water may affect their health.
Communities with sodium levels above the recommended 20 milligrams per litre include Bright, Brownsville, Embro, Ingersoll, Mount Elgin, Oxford South, Plattsville, Tavistock, Thamesford, Tillsonburg, and Woodstock.
More information, including full Health Information Advisories for both fluoride and sodium, is available through Southwestern Public Health.
