Saturday, September 23, 2006
Public Health Services Advise Against the use of the tap water in Eleven Tenerife Districts
Public health services of the Canary Island Government yesterday issued an alert over the elevated level of fluoride in the water in eleven Tenerife municipalities, which are; Adeje, La Matanza, La Victoria, Santa Úrsula, San Juan de la Rambla, Icod de los Vinos, Garachico, La Guancha, Buenavista del Norte, Los Silos and El Tanque.
This is not a prohibition of the consumption of tap water, but they do advise that the water is inappropriate for drinking or in the preparation of food.
The World Health Organization say here that:
"Ingestion of excess fluoride, most commonly in drinking-water, can cause fluorosis which affects the teeth and bones. Moderate amounts lead to dental effects, but long-term ingestion of large amounts can lead to potentially severe skeletal problems. Paradoxically, low levels of fluoride intake help to prevent dental caries. The control of drinking-water quality is therefore critical in preventing fluorosis."
Diario de Avisos continue to tell us much the same information and, that this problem is down to the Tenerife geography, given that fluoride occurs naturally in water in volcanic areas. The galleries transport water with excess fluoride and it is necessary to treat it, which is carried out at the desalination plants in the north (Icod and La Guancha) and in the south of the island (Guía de Isora, Santiago del Teide).
Nevertheless, the amount of fluoride in the water does vary, as well as the amount of water treated in each municipality, which can cause spikes, such as that which has occurred now to severely limit the use of the water in the areas most affected.
It is now down to the individual town halls, who are responsible for the supply and distribution of water, to resolve the situation.
Actually, I had noticed that the tap water smells, noticeably, like bleach, which is not at all unusual here. Whilst they do not say so, should tap water also therefore be considered unsuitable for teeth cleaning? It certainly does not do dark fabrics any favours when used for laundry and my personal advice is that it is unsuitable for washing your hair, unless you want to end up looking like Worzel Gummidge.
Sanidad desaconseja el uso de agua en 11 pueblos tinerfeños
World Health Organization - Water-related diseases
This is not a prohibition of the consumption of tap water, but they do advise that the water is inappropriate for drinking or in the preparation of food.
The World Health Organization say here that:
"Ingestion of excess fluoride, most commonly in drinking-water, can cause fluorosis which affects the teeth and bones. Moderate amounts lead to dental effects, but long-term ingestion of large amounts can lead to potentially severe skeletal problems. Paradoxically, low levels of fluoride intake help to prevent dental caries. The control of drinking-water quality is therefore critical in preventing fluorosis."
Diario de Avisos continue to tell us much the same information and, that this problem is down to the Tenerife geography, given that fluoride occurs naturally in water in volcanic areas. The galleries transport water with excess fluoride and it is necessary to treat it, which is carried out at the desalination plants in the north (Icod and La Guancha) and in the south of the island (Guía de Isora, Santiago del Teide).
Nevertheless, the amount of fluoride in the water does vary, as well as the amount of water treated in each municipality, which can cause spikes, such as that which has occurred now to severely limit the use of the water in the areas most affected.
It is now down to the individual town halls, who are responsible for the supply and distribution of water, to resolve the situation.
Actually, I had noticed that the tap water smells, noticeably, like bleach, which is not at all unusual here. Whilst they do not say so, should tap water also therefore be considered unsuitable for teeth cleaning? It certainly does not do dark fabrics any favours when used for laundry and my personal advice is that it is unsuitable for washing your hair, unless you want to end up looking like Worzel Gummidge.
Sanidad desaconseja el uso de agua en 11 pueblos tinerfeños
World Health Organization - Water-related diseases
