Fluorine is highly toxic and considered a greenhouse gas.
"Fluorocarbon gases are generally greenhouse gases with global-warming potentials 100 to 23,500 times that of carbon dioxide" - Wiki article
So the EPA should be worried about all that fluoride washed into the sewage system because it can't be filtered out or otherwise removed from the water.
"Organofluorine compounds often persist in the environment due to the strength of the carbon–fluorine bond." - Wiki
But the big question in my mind is the following fact about fluoride in the drinking water.
"Fluorine, in the form of fluoride, is considered to be a micronutrient for human health, necessary to prevent dental cavities, and to promote healthy bone growth."- Wiki
So, a healthy micronutrient, OK, but what does human bone and teeth health have to do with protecting the environment? What business does the Environmental Protection Agency have to do with human health beyond the health of the environment? This sounds like an area for the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, not the EPA.
I'd like to point out that beyond its use in drinking water, fluoride and fluorine have many important industrial uses and can be considered a waste product.
"Industry has found many uses for fluorine and its compounds, making it an integral part of many industrial processes in today’s world. Fluorine is used in a variety of industries, including the pharmaceutical, electronics, aerospace, and energy industries." - Bing AI Assistant
Let's not forget this . . .
"Uranium enrichment:
Fluorine gas is used in the uranium enrichment process to produce fuel for nuclear power plants."
100 Uses of Fluorine
"Fluorocarbon gases are generally greenhouse gases with global-warming potentials 100 to 23,500 times that of carbon dioxide" - Wiki article
So the EPA should be worried about all that fluoride washed into the sewage system because it can't be filtered out or otherwise removed from the water.
"Organofluorine compounds often persist in the environment due to the strength of the carbon–fluorine bond." - Wiki
But the big question in my mind is the following fact about fluoride in the drinking water.
"Fluorine, in the form of fluoride, is considered to be a micronutrient for human health, necessary to prevent dental cavities, and to promote healthy bone growth."- Wiki
So, a healthy micronutrient, OK, but what does human bone and teeth health have to do with protecting the environment? What business does the Environmental Protection Agency have to do with human health beyond the health of the environment? This sounds like an area for the FDA, the Food and Drug Administration, not the EPA.
I'd like to point out that beyond its use in drinking water, fluoride and fluorine have many important industrial uses and can be considered a waste product.
"Industry has found many uses for fluorine and its compounds, making it an integral part of many industrial processes in today’s world. Fluorine is used in a variety of industries, including the pharmaceutical, electronics, aerospace, and energy industries." - Bing AI Assistant
Let's not forget this . . .
"Uranium enrichment:
Fluorine gas is used in the uranium enrichment process to produce fuel for nuclear power plants."
100 Uses of Fluorine
A trail goes two ways and looks different in each direction - There is no such thing as a timid woodland creature - Whatever does not kill you leaves you a survivor - Jesus is NOT a bad word - MSB