Fluoride in the water

[Bograt]

Does anyone know if Cyprus adds fluoride to the drinking water?

I've been reading that fluoride is a thyroid gland suppressant. I have also read that there is a high prevalence of thyroid problems in Cyprus, and that some doctors blame the water. Now, I don't know the veracity of these statements, and whether there is a link between the two. However, having a mild thyroid problem myself, and being determined to try to help myself as much as possible, I thought I'd see whether anybody knew.

I usually run our drinking water (from the small tap) through a Brita. Brita's don't remove fluoride though, just improve the taste of the tea (in my opinion). I believe the only way to shift fluoride from water is to get a reverse osmosis system. First things first though, so - is there fluoride added, does anybody know? My friend Google has not been able to help me, so off to Paphos Life I go.

[Bograt]

Two posters on this AngloInfo thread (via. Google) suggest that Cyprus does not add fluoride to the water: https://www.angloinfo.com/cyprus/discus ... er-quality

Alternatively, you might want to go straight to the horse's mouth and ask the Water Development Dept. directly:

Water Development Department
100 - 110 Kennenty Avenue,
1047 Pallouriotissa, Lefkosia
Tel.No : (357) 22609000

However, that assumes that the Water Dept. know exactly where your water comes from. Could be, like us, it comes from a borehole.

Third option is to take a sample of tap water to the Pavlides lab at the bottom of the Polis Rd (on the LHS as you look up the road). May cost you €30 or so (at a guess), but you would get a definitive answer, as Pavlides specialise in testing water quality amongst many other things.

Thank you HiC, for such a helpful reply. I'll give the water department a go when I'm next over. Failing that, I will take a sample to that lab as you suggest, then I will know for sure. i know that sometimes fluoride is present in water naturally, I'm just not that keen on the added in stuff.

[PaphosAL]

Interesting link from Wikipedia on this controversial subject:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_flu ... ontroversy

Cheers- AL

[Bograt]

Interesting link from Wikipedia on this controversial subject:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_flu ... ontroversy

Cheers- AL

Thanks, a lot of information there.

Thyroid UK state on their website:

"Did you know that fluoride was used in the past to treat hyperthyroidism and that it was frequently used at levels below the current "optimal" intake of 1mg per day. Did you know that fluoride is able to mimic the action of TSH? Researcher Andreas Schuld has found that excess fluoride correlates with other thyroid-related issues such as iodine deficiency. When there is excess of fluoride in the body it can interfere with the function of the thyroid gland."

For those not in the know, hyPERthyroidism is an overactive thyroid, so fluoride was being used to slow it down. People that are hyPOthyroid, in other words with an underactive thyroid, definitely don't need the brakes putting on it. Quite a statement from a respected organisation.