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Specs
Berkey fluoride water filter PF-2 reduction elements are specially designed for use in conjunction with the Black Berkey water filters to adsorb the following unwanted elements found in drinking water.
Fluoride: Sodium Fluoride, Sodium Fluorosilicate, Fluorosilicic Acid (aka Hydrofluorosilicic Acid)
Arsenic: V and pre-oxidized Arsenic III
Other residual heavy metal ions
The number of PF-2s must always correspond with the number of Black Berkey filters installed in the upper chamber. For example, 4 Black Berkey (2 sets of 2) would require 4 PF-2s (2 sets of 2), and so on.
The PF-2 shell is made from safe, non-leaching Polypropylene #5. This BPA-Free plastic is used for food containers such as ketchup and yogurt containers.
PF-2 filters reduce the filtration flow rate by 15-20%.
Do not boil the PF-2 filters.
*Due to state regulations, not available for sale in California or Iowa.
Replacement
Under normal conditions, we recommend replacing each set of two PF-2 filters after approximately 1,000 gallons. For instance, the Royal Berkey system is about 3.25 gallons. The PF-2 filters should be replaced after (1,000/3.25) or 307 refills.
If the system is refilled about one time per day, the PF-2s should be replaced after 10 months, and if the system is refilled about twice daily, the PF-2s should be replaced about every five months.
Actual capacity is dependent on the presence of other competing contaminants in the source water. High levels of fluoride, arsenic, and heavy metals may reduce the capacity and efficiency of the elements.
More About the Berkey Fluoride Removal Filter PF-2:
Chamber Location
Lower Chamber
Sold As
Set of 2
Durability
Approximately 1000 Gallons or 2 Years (whichever comes first)
NOTES:
1) Do not be subject to freezing temperatures, high heat, or boil the fluoride water filter elements.
2) Under normal circumstances, the PF-2 canisters reduce most Berkey filtering systems’ water filtering flow rate by 15-20%.
3.) The Berkey PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Filters are covered under a six-month warranty.
4.) Filters that have already been in use are not eligible for a return/refund as they cannot be resold for health and safety reasons.
Compatible With:
Travel Berkey Water Filter - 1.5 GallonsBig Berkey Water Filter - 2.25 GallonsBerkey Light Water Filter - 2.75 GallonsRoyal Berkey Water Filter - 3.25 Gallons
Using the Berkey Fluoride and Arsenic Removal Water Filter, you can significantly reduce fluoride and arsenic in your drinking water. Fluoride is deliberately added to many municipal water supplies and is becoming controversial as research shows it may have adverse effects.Black Berkey Elements can remove various potential contaminants, including fluoride. These elements, however, lose efficiency over time when removing fluoride. They begin to miss fluoride after extensive use. A separate fluoride reduction filter must be used to maintain long-term fluoride reduction.The PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Removal Filters are designed to work with the Black Berkey filters. The PF-2 filter removes fluoride and arsenic ions. The combination removes up to 97% of fluoride and arsenic from water.PF-2 filter elements are made of BPA-free, non-leaching Polypropylene #5. They are designed to reduce the filtration flow rate by up to 20 percent.
Why remove fluoride?
Water fluoridation in the US began in the 1940s and has been controversial since its inception. Competing viewpoints argue whether it is a public health achievement or an unnecessary, even dangerous, contaminant.
According to a 2013 Congressional Research Service Report for Congress15, concerns around the fluoridation of water stem in part from the increase in general fluoride exposure since The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued their original, recommended water fluoridation levels in 1962:Because the use of fluoridated dental products and the consumption of food and beverages made with fluoridated water have increased since HHS recommended optimal levels for fluoridation, many people may be exposed to more fluoride than anticipated.
Consequently, questions have emerged as to whether current water fluoridation practices and levels offer the most appropriate ways to provide the expected beneficial effects of fluoride while avoiding adverse effects (most commonly, tooth mottling or pitting—dental fluorosis) that may result from ingestion of too much fluoride when teeth are developing.
Hundreds of research articles published over the past several decades have demonstrated potential harm to humans from fluoride at various levels of exposure, including levels currently deemed safe.
Fluoride is known to impact the cardiovascular, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, immune, integumentary, renal, respiratory, and skeletal systems, and fluoride exposure has been linked to Alzheimer's disease, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, infertility, and many other adverse health outcomes, including fluoride toxicity.
Most developed nations, including Japan and 97% of Western Europe, do not fluoridate their water. Comprehensive data from the World Health Organization reports no “discernible difference in tooth decay between the minority of western nations that fluoridate water and the majority that do not.”
What is PF-2?
What is the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2?
The Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2 is designed to primarily remove or adsorb the following unnecessary elements that are commonly found in our drinking water:
Fluoride: Sodium Fluoride, Sodium Fluorosilicate, Fluorosilicic Acid (aka Hydrofluorosilic Acid)
Arsenic: V and pre-oxidized Arsenic III
Other residual heavy metal ions
Berkey PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements are used in conjunction with Black Berkey Elements and offer:
Activated alumina- A media specifically suited for fluoride reduction
Proper contact time- Having a dedicated element allows for the proper amount of media and proper contact time
Easy replacement—Since they Are separated, Berkey PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements may be swapped out to ensure proper performance.
The Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2 is made out of Polypropylene #5, which is ensured to be safe and non-leaching. Polypropylene #5, used for the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2, is BPA-Free.
The Scope and Limitations of the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter
Maximum Filtration Ability
The Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter is guaranteed to remove unwanted metal elements. However, its maximum capacity for this primary responsibility is approximately 1000 gallons of water. After filtering approximately 1000 gallons of water, it is time for replacement.
Manually Counting its Life Expectancy
This is one of the tricky characteristics of the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter. Yes, it says that its maximum filtration capacity is approximately 1000 gallons. But the question is, how do you know if it has reached its limit? Well, it is not as hard as it may sound. But you have to compute it manually. For you to figure out if your Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2 is reaching its maximum capacity, you have to do the following tips:
Always keep track of how many times you refill your water system. Each water system has its gallon capacity indicated, so it would help if you took note of that number.
Next, multiply that number by your water system's gallon capacity. For example, you have the Berkey Light system, which has a gallon capacity of 2.75. You refill your Berkey Light three times a week. So, that should be 3 x 2.75. The answer will be the number of total gallons you drink every week.
Lastly, divide the answer that you have in the second step. This is to determine the number of weeks your Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2 before replacement.
Product Compatibility
As mentioned above, the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter works for only hand in hand with the Black Berkey Elements alone. Another is that it also works in conjunction with the Berkey PF-4 post-filter elements. These are crucial factors to ensure the highest quality when filtering or cleansing your drinking water. All these work cohesively to bring about the most reliable, safe, and drinkable water.
The Water’s PH Levels
Another limitation of the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2 performance is the PH levels in your water. It has been tested that the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2 cannot remove fluoride efficiently when your water has a PH level of below 5 or above 7. In short, to acquire optimum effectiveness and reliability from the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF-2, ensure that your drinking water’s Ph level is above 5 or below 7.
Taking Care of the Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter
Remove your Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter from the water system and dry the filters completely in the air.
Next, is to place them inside a sealed plastic bag. Make sure that it is sealed tightly and securely.
Lastly, store them inside your refrigerator. But always put them farther from the freezer spot.
Info
The Berkey PF2 Fluoride Water Filter
Water is essential for our health, but sometimes, the water we drink contains unwanted and harmful chemicals. These include fluoride and arsenic. However, the Berkey Fluoride PF2 Water Filter can remove these components.
The Proprietary Fluoride Reduction Media PF2 will remove any inorganic fluoride salts. All fluoride salts are soluble in water. So it does not matter what fluoride salts are in the water; fluoride is present as an anion, and the media will absorb fluoride ions.
This media has an unusually high surface area of more than 350 sq.m./gram of material, which allows more efficient removal of the fluoride and arsenic ions. The controlled development of the pore size distribution from 30Angstroms to 100Angstroms enhances this high surface area, providing greater accessibility to the surface active sites through bulk diffusion.
Here is some information on what it is, what it does, precautionary measures, and how it removes fluoride, arsenic, and other unwanted contaminating chemicals in your drinking water.
Berkey Fluoride Removal Water Filter PF2
The Berkey PF2 Fluoride Water Filter can be augmented with the Black Berkey Water Elements to eliminate impurities such as arsenic, MTBE, fluoride, and other heavy metals.
When strung directly onto the Black Berkey Water Filters, the fluoride elements will decrease effectively to take control of the besieged risky impurities in your drinking water. The fluoride water filter is compatible with All Full-Size Berkey Water Filter Systems and works as a post filter to the Black Berkey Water Filter.
TEST RESULTS FOR BERKEY PF-2 FLUORIDE AND ARSENIC REDUCTION ELEMENTS
Independent lab testing reveals how Berkey PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements perform over time. Look at the first column for the volume tested and the last for the % fluoride reduction. It is critical to have multiple samples to determine the rate of “% “Reduction” drop-off and, by association, the element's lifespan.
Under normal contamination conditions, the media in a Berkey PF-2 Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements set has been calculated to reduce fluoride by up to 1,000 gallons.
Benefits and Features
It effectively lessens water impurities like pre-oxidized arsenic III, arsenic V, fluoride, MTBE, and other weighty metal ions.
It decreases the quantity of fluoride in your drinking water by 97%.
It works as a post filter to the Black Berkey Water Filter.
It works with other Berkey filters, such as the Big Berkey, Crown Berkey, Berkey Light, Royal Berkey, and Imperial Berkey.
It is very easy to set up and use.
A Controversy about Fluoride in Drinking Water
A time-tested process was developed for the Berkey Fluoride Water Filter to lessen fluoride in your drinking water. Berkey established this kind of filter to meet the apprehensions of many people who find the practice of accumulating fluoride in drinking water unacceptable or questionable.
Since the 1950s, fluoride has been accumulated in many municipal water supplies. This practice is now becoming viral or more contentious.
Some reports, research, and studies have examined the risky effects of accumulating fluoride in drinking water. The sanitization and healthy benefits of accumulating fluoride directly on the surface of the teeth are uncertain.
The uncertainty begins with fluoride that has already accumulated in the drinking water. It only occurs when it is in contact with the teeth in diluted form for a very short period.
After the connection, the fluoride is absorbed, and the human body is subjected to the effects of illness and other diseases of the fluoride composition for hours after ingestion.
Some faultfinders claim that at this stage, extensive fluoride toothpaste is appropriately and directly applied to the surface of each tooth. If fluoride is included in the water supply, it will be unnecessary and possibly negligible.
Berkey fluoride water filter allows you to decide on your health by lessening the amount of fluoride in your drinking water by 95%.
Here are some water contaminants that PF-2 can effectively remove.
Fluoride
Pre-oxidized Arsenic III and Arsenic V
MTBE
Other heavy metal ions
Replacement of PF-2
Experts recommend replacing each Berkey PF-2 Fluoride Water Filter set after approximately 1,000 gallons. For example, you have a Big Berkey system with a capacity of 2.25 gallons and refill it two times daily.
You will be using 4.5 gallons of water daily. However, under these conditions, the PF-2 fluoride water filter elements will only last for approximately 222 days or 1000 gallons divided by 4 = 222 or over 7 months.
The concrete replacement period for the PF-2 fluoride filter depends on how much water you will use and the presence of other rival impurities in the source water. High stages of fluoride, arsenic, and certain heavy metals may negatively affect the productivity and capacity of the PF-2 components.
PFPF2’s technical Information
Experts performed a test with a current rate of less than 11 liters per minute per cubic foot of the Berkey at 20-30 parts per million of the ion in the liquid solution.
Results showed that <1 part per million or ppm of the fluoride ion in the emission was distinctive for the filtering tool or >95% reduction. Under optimal laboratory conditions, emissions of less than 50 parts per billion (ppb) were eagerly accomplished, associated with a >99.75% reduction.
Arsenic
Arsenic oxide anions and arsenic cations have exceptional possessions that this Berkey filter product efficiently targets.
Preventive Measures for PF2
Do not consider freezing temperatures, high temperatures, or simmering the fluoride water filter components.
Under normal conditions, the PF2 containers lessen most Berkey filtering systems' water filtering stream rate by 15% to 20%.
The PF2 elements must also be primed, like the Black Berkey components.
Berkey PF2 elements can reduce the filtration stream rate by 15% to 20%.
The PF-2 elements are stress-free to set up. After setting up the Black Berkey components, attach the PF-2 elements to the thread trunks of the Black Berkey elements, leaving the wingnuts in place of the Black Berkey Elements.
Ensure to read the provided manual to correct the setup. The PF2 elements are seated in the bottom part of the tank, and it is ready to use. Rest assured that the filter discarded the first full tank to eliminate any remaining manufacturing dust.
What is fluoride?
Fluorine (9F) is the 13th most abundant element in the earth's crust. Proposed as an element in 1810, fluorine is an extremely reactive and highly toxic gas in its standard state. It is not found in the atmosphere, as it reacts easily to water vapor. Instead, it is most significantly found in the minerals fluorite, fluorapatite, and cryolite.
Fluoride refers to any compound that contains the element fluorine. For example, when a mineral containing fluorine is mixed with water, the hydrogen and fluorine atoms combine to yield hydrogen fluoride (HF) or hydrofluoric acid.
This is a precursor to almost all other fluorine compounds and is used in producing many pharmaceuticals and polymers. Remember that it is a general term when you hear “fluoride” regarding tap water.
The particular fluoride compound used for water fluoridation depends on the selection of local water authorities.
What is water fluoridation?
Water fluoridation is the controlled addition of a fluorine compound to a public water supply. The three most common compounds added to drinking water are:
Sodium fluoride (NaF)- A colorless, odorless crystalline solid or white powder. It is typically manufactured by the reaction of hydrofluoric acid with sodium carbonate. Sodium fluoride dissolves easily in water and is commonly used in fluoride toothpaste, rinses, and supplements. Other uses include pesticides, wood preservatives, solvents, corrosion inhibitors, and glass manufacturing. It is one of several compounds used for municipal water fluoridation. It is more expensive than other compounds but reportedly easier to handle in its crystalline form.
Fluorosilicic (Hydrofluorosilicic) acid (H2SiF6)- An inexpensive, colorless chemical byproduct of phosphate fertilizer manufacturing. When phosphoric rock is converted to soluble fertilizer, the process creates two toxic fluoride gases: hydrogen fluoride and silicon tetrafluoride. As hydrogen fluoride condenses, it is collected “...into storage tanks and shipped to water departments throughout the country.” Because pharmaceutical and food-grade Fluorosilicic acid is prohibitively expensive, most water treatment facilities utilize industrial-grade Fluorosilicic acid, which commonly contains unwanted contaminants such as arsenic and lead.
Fluorosilicic acid is the most commonly used additive for water fluoridation in the United States. Unlike Sodium fluoride, “Hydrofluorosilicic acid is easily the most dangerous chemical at your local water treatment plant. It can release hydrogen fluoride when it evaporates, is corrosive, and can damage the lungs if breathed in, making it especially dangerous for plant employees if stored incorrectly.”
Sodium Fluorosilicate (Na2SiF6)- A fine, white, odorless powder neutralizing fluorosilicic acid with sodium chloride or sodium sulfate. It is the sodium salt of fluorosilicic acid. It is easier to transport than fluorosilicic acid. In addition to water fluoridation, sodium fluorosilicate is used in laundry and dishwashing products and as a rodenticide.
Does any compound of fluoride occur naturally in water?
Calcium fluoride- As mentioned above, naturally-occurring minerals contain the element fluorine. When the composition of soils and bedrock causes these minerals to come into contact with water, fluoride occurs naturally in drinking water. Many cities worldwide do not fluoridate their water supplies because naturally occurring calcium fluoride affects local water sources.
What do the ADA and CDC say about water fluoridation in the US?
The ADA and CDC have historically promoted the fluoridation of drinking water. However, this has become increasingly more controversial as the results of many US and European studies appear to challenge the veracity of such recommendations. We suggest that readers familiarize themselves with such studies and decide on water fluoridation.
What are the current drinking water standards for fluoride?
The current EPA-enforceable maximum contaminant level (MCL) for fluoride in drinking water is 4.0 mg/L. The MCL is set to be as close as possible to the public health goal that the EPA finds may be achieved with the best use of technology, considering factors like cost.
The current EPA non-enforceable secondary standard (SMCL) for fluoride is 2.0 mg/L. Secondary standards regulate contaminants that may cause cosmetic effects (such as skin or tooth discoloration) or aesthetic effects (such as taste, odor, or color of drinking water).
According to the EPA’s Secondary Drinking Water Standards: Guidance for Nuisance Chemicals:
While SMCLs are not federally enforceable, EPA requires a special notice for exceedance of the fluoride SMCL of 2.0 mg/L. Community water systems that exceed the fluoride SMCL of 2 mg/L, but do not exceed the MCL of 4.0 mg/L for fluoride, must provide public notice to persons served no later than 12 months from the day the water system learns of the exceedance (40 CFR 141.208).
What are the concerns and potential health risks associated with water fluoridation?
Water fluoridation in the US began in the 1940s and has been controversial since its inception. Competing viewpoints argue whether it is a public health achievement or an unnecessary, even dangerous, contaminant.
The US currently fluoridates over 70% of its public water supplies, making it extremely important to understand the concerns outlined below.
INCREASED FLUORIDE EXPOSURE: MODERN DENTAL PRODUCTS, PREPARED FOOD AND BEVERAGES, AND OTHER SOURCES
According to a 2013 Congressional Research Service Report for Congress, concerns around the fluoridation of water stem in part from the increase in general fluoride exposure since The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued their original, recommended water fluoridation levels in 1962:
Because the use of fluoridated dental products and the consumption of food and beverages made with fluoridated water have increased since HHS recommended optimal levels for fluoridation, many people now may be exposed to more fluoride than had been anticipated.
Consequently, questions have emerged as to whether current water fluoridation practices and levels offer the most appropriate ways to provide the expected beneficial effects of fluoride while avoiding adverse effects (most commonly, tooth mottling or pitting—dental fluorosis) that may result from ingestion of too much fluoride when teeth are developing.
Beyond fluoridated tap water, consumers may be exposed to fluorine (the element in fluoride) through:
Dental products
Some agrichemicals
Pesticides
Herbicides
Insecticides
Soil and groundwater contamination
Common foods and beverages (examples)
Tea
Seafood
Wine
Juice
Jellies
Raisins
Soups
Baby food
Soda
Bottled water (varies)
Pharmaceuticals
Consumer products made with perfluorinated compounds (PFCs)
PET scans
Fluoride released from the industry
Cigarette smoke
LACK OF CHOICE: DISREGARDING INDIVIDUAL CONSENT TO MEDICATION
Similar to concerns about the increase, and often unknown, the potential for widespread exposure to sources of fluoride are concerns around an individual’s ability to personally control the use of fluoride in treating tooth decay.
The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) explains:
Fluoridation is a violation of the individual’s right to informed consent to medication. Within a community water supply, fluoride is being added to the water of everyone, even if some people do not want it and still others do not even know about the fluoride being added to the water or about its health risks.
Lack of Control for Susceptible Populations
While the EPA’s MCL for fluoride in drinking water is 4.0 mg/L, the quantity one consumes daily and its effect on the individual may vary. Water fluoridation uses a one-dose-fits-all model for treatment.
Susceptible populations with low body weights, such as infants and children, and individuals who consume increased amounts of water, such as athletes, military personnel, outdoor laborers, and those with diabetes or kidney dysfunction, can be more intensely affected by fluoride. Additionally, fluoride is also known to impact each individual differently based on allergies, nutrient deficiencies, genetic factors, and other variables.
HEALTH RISKS: FLUOROSIS AND THE POTENTIAL FOR FURTHER HARM
A widely acknowledged health concern related to water fluoridation is dental fluorosis, the discoloration of tooth enamel, primarily in children. This typically occurs due to a child ingesting too much fluoride toothpaste but may also occur in areas where the fluoride levels are exceptionally high and potentially unregulated. Skeletal fluorosis refers to the weakening of bones and has been observed in areas where naturally-occurring levels of calcium fluoride are dangerously high.
According to WebMD:
Fluoride is safe for most people in the amounts added to public water supplies and used in toothpastes and mouthwashes, and applied by dentists. Low doses (up to 20mg per day of elemental fluoride) of supplemental fluoride taken by mouth appear to be safe for most people. Higher doses are UNSAFE and can weaken bones and ligaments, and cause muscle weakness and nervous system problems. High doses of fluoride in children before their permanent teeth come through the gums can cause tooth discoloration.
Beyond Fluorosis, Exposure to High Fluoride Levels a Concern
The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT), a non-profit originally founded in 1984 to explore the use of mercury in dentistry, discovered that high levels of fluoride (fluoride toxicity) could impact far more than just bones:
Hundreds of research articles published over the past several decades have demonstrated potential harm to humans from fluoride at various levels of exposure, including levels currently deemed as safe. Fluoride is known to impact the cardiovascular, central nervous, digestive, endocrine, immune, integumentary, renal, respiratory, and skeletal systems, and exposure to fluoride has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, diabetes, heart disease, infertility, and many other adverse health outcomes, including fluoride toxicity.
The literature in favor of water fluoridation explains that the recommended dose is acceptable. However, as already discussed, the list of potential sources of fluoride exposure has grown dramatically in the last few decades, making it quite challenging to ensure that populations have not overdosed.
This begs the question, how much fluoride are US populations exposed to in total? Consider that rates of dental fluorosis among children are on the rise. According to a 2010 report by the CDC entitled, Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999-2004 and the 1986-1987 National Survey of Oral Health in U.S. School Children, “In 1986-1987, 22.6% of adolescents aged 12-15 had dental fluorosis, whereas in 1999-2004, 40.7% of adolescents aged 12-15 had dental fluorosis.”
EFFECTIVENESS QUESTIONED: WATER FLUORIDATION AS A MEANS TO TREAT TOOTH DECAY
Fluoride, which has an affinity for calcium, primarily works to reduce tooth decay when applied topically. In other words, scrubbing fluoride toothpaste directly onto teeth with a toothbrush is ideal.
Topical Rather than Ingested
According to an article critical of water fluoridation posted to the Scientific World Journal and cataloged by The National Center for Biotechnology Information:
The classification of fluoride as a pollutant rather than as a nutrient or medicine is a useful starting point for analyzing the adverse effect of fluoride. No fluoride deficiency disease has ever been documented for humans. Indeed, the basis for setting an "adequate intake" of fluoride rests on the alleged ability of ingested fluoride to prevent tooth decay. However, since it is now known that the effect of fluoride is topical, the notion of an “adequate daily intake” is flawed. One of the key concerns about water fluoridation is the inability to control an individual's dose of ingested fluoride which brings into question the concept of the “optimal dose.” Since the 1980s numerous studies have identified that adults and children are exceeding these agreed limits, contributing to a rapid rise in dental fluorosis—the first sign of fluoride toxicity.
THE ENVIRONMENT: PETS AND WILD ANIMALS ARE ALSO EXPOSED
Fluoride is difficult to remove from water once added. This means that overall, water sources are increasing in levels of fluoride. According to the IAOMT, “Harmful effects of fluoride, including species vulnerability, have been reported in an array of wild animals. Even domestic pets have been subject to reports raising concerns about fluoride exposure, especially through water and food.”
THE MAJORITY: MOST DEVELOPED NATIONS DO NOT FLUORIDATE WATER
Most developed nations, including Japan and 97% of Western Europe, do not fluoridate their water. Comprehensive data from the World Health Organization reports no “discernible difference in tooth decay between the minority of western nations that fluoridate water and the majority that do not.”
How can I find out if my public water system adds fluoride?
Contact your water utility supplier to find out if your water is fluoridated. Your water utility supplier's name and contact information are on your water bill. The EPA mandates that all community water systems provide customers with an annual report on water quality, including the fluoride content.
If you own a private well, you can get information about fluoride at https://www.epa.gov/privatewells
How is fluoride different from water treatment chemicals?
More than 40 chemical additives can be used to treat drinking water. Fluoride is added solely to help prevent tooth decay. Other treatment chemicals, such as chlorine and chloramine, are added to disinfect, reduce turbidity, or prevent the corrosion of pipes. Unlike disinfectants, fluoride is far more difficult to remove from water, requiring specialized media (and lots of it) to be effective.
How can I reduce fluoride in my water?
As mentioned briefly above, fluoride is difficult to remove once added to water. There are only a few reliable methods to do so: reverse osmosis, deionization, and filtration with the correct media. The two primary media types are activated alumina and bone char. Activated alumina is the preferred media and de facto worldwide standard for fluoride filtration.
BONE CHAR
Heating cattle bones makes bone char to 600-900 degrees Fahrenheit. It ranges from black bone char, created at the lower end of the temperature range, to grey and white bone char, which occurs at the higher end. Black bone char is the most effective at reducing fluoride, while white bone char can virtually not remove fluoride. Water filtration products made with bone char are less costly than those made with activated alumina.
Berkey Systems does not utilize bone char for two very good reasons:
Performance- The efficiency of bone char at reducing fluoride drops precipitously at a certain gallon lifespan depends on the quantity of media available. For a post-filter our size, fluoride removal becomes negligible after less than 100 gallons.
BSE Concerns- More importantly, certain biological concerns are associated with using bone char due to Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) or Mad Cow Disease. BSE prions are not destroyed by temperatures in the 600-900 degree range, especially not at the lower end of that range.
ACTIVATED ALUMINA
The most logical choice for fluoride filtration is inert, non-soluble activated alumina, which neither loses its efficiency nor carries any potential risk of BSE prion exposure. Also, because it is inert, it does not require antifungals.
“Activated alumina is manufactured from aluminum hydroxide by de-hydroxylating it in a way that produces a highly porous material; this material can have a surface area significantly over 200 m²/g. The compound is used as a desiccant (to keep things dry by absorbing water from the air) and as a filter of fluoride, arsenic and selenium in drinking water. It is made of aluminum oxide (alumina; Al2O3)…It has a very high surface-area-to-weight ratio, due to the many “tunnel like pores that it has.”
Pure Aluminum and Activated Alumina are Very Different
As a consumer, it is important to know that pure aluminum and activated alumina have vastly different characteristics. Pure aluminum is water-soluble, highly reactive, and is associated with negative health effects. By contrast, activated alumina is not water-soluble, very stable (inert), and not associated with negative health effects.
Activated alumina is an inert compound of aluminum and oxygen. It is a naturally-occurring inorganic, non-toxic compound known as corundum. Rubies and sapphires are examples of gem-quality corundum. Activated alumina is no more toxic or water-soluble than rubies and sapphires.
What about carbon-based filter elements?
Carbon-based filter elements look similar to (though do not necessarily perform like) Black Berkey Elements. What is critical to understand is that while most carbon-based filters will initially reduce fluoride, they typically experience a drastic decline in their effectiveness, usually within the first 50 gallons or less. A separate fluoride reduction filter is required to ensure long-term fluoride reduction. This provides the proper amount of media (activated alumina) and contact time for effective long-term fluoride reduction.
CARBONIZED BONE CHAR AND CLAIMS OF FLUORIDE REDUCTION
Some carbon-based filters on the market utilize carbonized bone char and claim high levels of fluoride reduction without revealing the percent drop-off in fluoride reduction capabilities over time. Our team had an independent lab evaluate one carbon-based element, and it reduced fluoride by just 20.8% at 50 gallons and a mere 14.3% at 100 gallons. By contrast, the Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements continued reduction at greater than 97% (see table below). Be cautious, and read on to understand how to evaluate fluoride reduction claims.
BLACK BERKEY ELEMENTS AND BERKEY PF-2™ FLUORIDE AND ARSENIC ELEMENTS
To create an effective, durable solution for fluoride reduction specifically, New Millennium Concepts, Ltd. developed Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements. These “post-filters” are used in conjunction with Black Berkey Elements and offer:
Activated alumina- A media specifically suited for fluoride reduction
Proper contact time- Having a dedicated element allows for the proper amount of media and proper contact time
Easy replacement—Because they are separate, Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements may be swapped out as needed to ensure proper performance.
Under normal contamination conditions, the Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements media have been calculated to reduce fluoride for up to 1,000 gallons.
How do you evaluate the effectiveness of a potential fluoride filter?
Evaluate your options for a fluoride filter by asking the following:
What media is used for fluoride reduction?
Are you comfortable with that media?
Are there sufficient amounts of this media present to effectively reduce fluoride?
What is the life expectancy of the filter element about fluoride?
Does independent lab testing demonstrate a percent reduction over time/gallons?
What is the percent reduction at 10 gallons? 100 gallons?
What is the end-of-life or maximum gallons for your desired reduction rate?
When should the filter element be changed?
ALSO, CONSIDER YOUR WATER SOURCE
Be aware that certain contaminants, such as a high silica content or arsenic, can reduce the effectiveness of activated alumina media.
TEST RESULTS FOR BERKEY PF-2™ FLUORIDE AND ARSENIC REDUCTION ELEMENTS
Independent lab testing reveals how Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements perform over time. Look at the first column for the volume tested and the last for the percentage fluoride reduction. Multiple samples are critical to determining the rate of “% Reduction” drop-off and, by association, the element's lifespan.
Under normal contamination conditions, the media in a set of Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements has been calculated to reduce fluoride for up to 1,000 gallons.
MORE ON COMPOSITION AND TESTING
The proprietary fluoride reduction media in the Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements is a high-yield activated alumina formulated to remove fluoride and arsenic from drinking water. This media has an unusually high surface area of more than 350 sq.m./gram of material, which allows more efficient removal of the fluoride and arsenic ions.
This high surface area is enhanced by controlled development of the pore size distribution from 30 Angstroms to 100 Angstroms, providing greater accessibility to the surface active sites through bulk diffusion. Uniform particle size, low silica content, and high purity are proprietary fluoride reduction media characteristics.
Sodium fluoride (NaF), sodium fluorosilicate (Na2SiF6), and calcium fluoride- The Proprietary Fluoride Reduction Media will reduce all types of inorganic fluoride salts.
Fluorosilicic (Hydrofluorosilicic) acid (H2SiF6)- Testing was conducted for fluoride salts. Tests have not yet been conducted for fluorosilicic acid. However, the molecular size of fluorosilicic acid is much larger than that of fluoride salts, and fluorosilicic acid has two negative charges, whereas fluoride salts only have one. The “extra” negative charge makes fluorosilicic acid easier for the media to absorb than regular fluoride ions. Therefore, it is highly likely the media will perform similarly (or even better) in reducing fluorosilicic acid. Nevertheless, since NMCL has no specific testing for fluorosilicic acid, we cannot make any specific claims for fluorosilicic acid reduction.
THE BOTTOM LINE
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