Issue link: https://www.hub.camaf.co.za/i/715908
5 myth: fluorIdated water Causes CanCer fact: wrong! south africans drink water that contains fluoride. A connection between fluoride in drinking water and cancer has been debated and studied for many years. although studies in the late 90's showed an increased number of cases of osteosarcoma (bone tumours) in male rats given fluoridated water for two (2) years, a recent report by the usa Centers for disease Control and prevention summarised extensive research findings and concluded that studies to date have produced "no credible evidence" of an association between fluoridated drinking water and an increased risk for cancer in humans, although fluoride accumulates in bone. The International agency for research on Cancer (IARC) has classified fluoride in drinking water as Group 3, meaning that it is not classifiable as a cancer causing agent in humans as evidence is insufficient. In South Africa the fluoridation of drinking water is regulated and is still seen as the most efficient way to prevent tooth decay. myth: sMokIng one or two CIgarettes a day won't Cause CanCer fact: wrong! you're still more likely to die of a smoking-related disease than anything else - but the risk is lower than if you smoked more. even smoking a single cigarette can cause the cilia (tiny hair- like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) to become paralysed for up to eight hours preventing the removal of impurities from the airways that could cause lung disease.