Fluoride exposure and childhood osteosarcoma: a case-control study.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES. This study tests the hypothesis that fluoride exposure in a nonoccupational setting is a risk factor for childhood osteosarcoma. METHODS. A population-based case-control study was conducted among residents of New York State, excluding New York City. Case subjects (n = 130) were diagnosed with osteosarcoma between 1978 and 1988, at age 24 years or younger. Control subjects were matched to case subjects on year of birth and sex. Exposure information was obtained by a telephone interview with the subject, parent, or both. RESULTS. Based on the parents' responses, total lifetime fluoride exposure was not significantly associated with osteosarcoma among all subjects combined or among females. However, a significant protective trend was observed among males. Protective trends were observed for fluoridated toothpaste, fluoride tablets, and dental fluoride treatments among all subjects and among males. Based on the subjects' responses, no significant associations between fluoride exposure and osteosarcoma were observed. CONCLUSIONS. Fluoride exposure does not increase the risk of osteosarcoma and may be protective in males. The protective effect may not be directly due to fluoride exposure but to other factors associated with good dental hygiene. There is also biologic plausibility for a protective effect.

Drinking water fluoridation and osteosarcoma incidence on the island of Ireland

“…Assuming that population density in the RoI can be used as a reliable indicator of areas supplied with fluoridated drinking water, there was little evidence of a significant effect of water fluoridation on osteosarcoma incidence at any age or for either sex. These results are consistent with almost all previous work [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. The higher incidence rate in young females in RoI (both fluoridated and non-fluoridated areas) is clearly unrelated to water fluoridation.…”

An Assessment of Bone Fluoride and Osteosarcoma

“…Similarly, case-control studies have not found any significant association between osteosarcoma risk and fluoridated drinking water (McGuire et al, 1991;Moss et al, 1995) or total lifetime fluoride (Gelberg et al, 1995). One exploratory analysis reported an increased risk among a subset of males exposed to fluoride in drinking water during childhood (Bassin et al, 2006).…”

Age-specific Fluoride Exposure in Drinking Water and Osteosarcoma (United States)

“…Human studies also show conflicting results. The majority of epidemiologic studies found no association between fluoride and osteosarcoma [15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. However, two studies found evidence of an association in males under age 20, but not in females [22,23].…”