High concentrations of fluoride can happen in areas where high levels of fluorine naturally occur In the U.S., this affects less than 1% of the population. Research studies on the dangers of fluoride in drinking water are mostly from countries with these high concentrations of fluorine in their soil, and levels of fluoride in water above 2.0 mg/L. These countries do not add fluoride to water, it is there because of high levels in the soil and bedrock.

Fluoridated water has reduced the number of cavities among children, adolescents, and adults, The greatest decrease in cavities was found in the 1900s, before fluoride was added to toothpaste. Still, the effectiveness of fluoride toothpaste in preventing cavities depends on how often toothpaste is used.

The CDC recommends a fluoride level of 0.7 mg/L as an optimal level to help prevent cavities. There is no federal regulation stating that communities must add fluoride to water, this choice happens at a state or municipality level.

If you get water from a town water supply, you can check if your water is fluoridated on the CDC website or your county’s water information page.

If your water is not fluoridated, parents of children can talk to their child’s dentist or pediatrician to see if fluoride supplements are needed.

If fluoride levels in water rise above 2.0 mg/L municipalities are required to alert their community members. This is because these levels increase the risk of dental fluorosis in children, which is a mild condition that causes white spots or pitting on teeth. This can also happen if a child consistently swallows toothpaste.

If you have well water and are concerned about the level of fluoride, you can test your water to determine the concentration. If the levels are above 2mg/L, you can get a filter to help remove fluoride, and if it is above 4 mg/L you should contact your local health department for next steps.

Some studies have linked high fluoride concentrations to lower IQ in children, more information on these studies is available through the National Toxicology Program.

More research is needed on the long-term health effects of higher concentrations of fluoride in water.

This marks the first reported case of an H5 bird flu infection in a pig in the United States. The farm is currently quarantined and additional animals on the farm are being monitored, including sheep and goats.

The five pigs exposed to bird flu were euthanized for further testing, one pig was positive, two were negative, and two are awaiting results.

Pigs can get more than one flu virus at the same time, raising concerns that a virus that is able to infect humans and the bird flu virus could both infect a pig simultaneously and combine to become more transferrable to people. A single case of a pig on a non-commercial farm is not enough to raise significant concerns or raise the public risk level.

In other countries in the past, a different strain of bird flu has jumped onto pigs without being transmitted to people.

We are still waiting for test results from two of the pigs, as well as a more thorough diagnostic examination.

Public Health officials continue to monitor bird flu in poultry and dairy farms, in addition to testing other animals that were exposed.

The increased trends observed in recent years may be due to post-pandemic “catch-up” mammography and diagnoses in 2021. The steeper increases among Asian American/Pacific Islander (AAPI) women may be influenced by variations in risk factors between immigrant and U.S.-born Asian women, with some studies suggesting different risk profiles for each group. In contrast, breast cancer death rates declined by 44% from 1989 to 2022, resulting in 517,900 fewer deaths during this period.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed among women in the US. Breast cancer typically occurs in middle-aged or older women, with the median age at time of breast cancer diagnosis being 62 overall but younger for Hispanic (57 years), AAPI (57 years), Black (60 years), and AIAN (60 years) women compared to White women (64 years). 

A painless lump in the breast or underarm lymph nodes is the most common sign of breast cancer. Other signs and symptoms include breast pain or heaviness; dimpling, swelling, thickening or redness; and nipple changes or discharge. 

Lifestyle-related breast cancer risk factors include alcohol consumption, being overweight or obese, physical inactivity, not having children, not breastfeeding, taking birth control or menopausal hormone therapy, and breast implants. Some unchangeable risk factors for breast cancer include being born female, aging, inheriting certain gene changes, dense breasts, family history of breast cancer, and personal history of breast cancer.

Breast cancer screenings cannot prevent breast cancer, instead they help find breast cancer at its early stages when it is easier to treat. Along with routine screenings, monthly breast self-exams can also help in noticing changes in breasts or detect when something feels different.  

Mammograms are the most common type of breast cancer screening, used for women above 40 with or without symptoms. For symptomatic women younger than 40, a breast ultrasound test is recommended. Breast ultrasounds are especially useful for women with dense breast tissue. Both breast MRI and a yearly mammogram are recommended for certain women at high risk of breast cancer. 

Treatment options for breast cancer include surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, biological therapy, and radiation therapy. Choice of treatment option is dependent on the type of cancer and the extent of its spread. Consultations with cancer doctors are recommended when deciding on treatment options available according to type and stage of cancer, as well as risks/benefits and side effects.  

Further research is needed to identify why women who are younger than 50 and are Asian American/Pacific Islander experience increased rates of new breast cancer cases. 

Breast cancer researchers are still learning how certain risk factors play a role in breast cancer development.