Bone cancer story

A report on Channel 7 tonight dealt with an alleged link between osteosarcoma (bone cancer) and water fluoridation.

This story was apparently based on a report on the Environmental Working Group website. This in turn referred to an article by Dr Elise Bassins, based on her PhD thesis, which appeared in Cancer Causes and Control (2006) vol 17, p 421-428 "Age specific fluoride exposure in drinking water and osteosarcoma." Keywords: osteosarcoma, fluoride

The US Centres for Disease Control has recently published a statement on this research, which notes (inter alia):

"The principal investigator for the overall study cautions against over interpreting or generalizing the results of the Bassin analysis, stressing that preliminary analysis of a second set of cases does not appear to replicate the findings (Douglass et al., 2006). "

It further states:

"A number of studies regarding water fluoridation and osteosarcoma have been published in the past. At this time, the weight of the scientific evidence, as assessed by independent committees of experts, comprehensive systematic reviews, and review of the findings of individual studies does not support an association between water fluoridated at levels optimal for oral health and the risk for cancer, including osteosarcoma."

The American Dental Association had also previously published a statement about this article.

The Victorian Department of Human Services has now published a fact sheet on osteosarcoma.