Water consumption in the United States in 1994-96 and implications for water fluoridation policy

Objectives: The purpose of this project was to describe current water consu mption patterns and to compare them to findings from earlier studies. Curre nt water consumption data also were used to reevaluate the association betw een wafer consumption and climate. These findings are of importance in esti mating fluoride intake from fluoridated wafer. Methods: Findings from the 1 994-96 Continuing Survey of Food intakes by Individuals (CSFII) were compar ed to those from two earlier dietary studies, the 1977-78 Nationwide Food C onsumption Survey (NFCS) and the pioneering research of Galagan and colleag ues in the 1950s. Food consumption data were analyzed for 14,619 persons wi th food and beverage intake data for two 24-hour periods in the CSFII. Resu lts: Increased consumption of infant formulas and decreased consumption of tap water and cow's milk were seen in the CSFII for infants compared to the NFCS. Older children and adults showed increased consumption of carbonated beverages and juices. While Galagan and colleagues found about a 60 percen t increase in water consumption between the coldest (55 degrees F) and warm est (85 degrees F) conditions, only a 20 percent difference was seen betwee n the winter and summer months in certain regions in the CSFII. Conclusions : No obvious strong or consistent association between water intake and mont h or season was apparent in these recent data. These findings are prelimina ry, and suggest that water fluoridation policy requires further research re garding wafer consumption and climate.