Objectives: To analyze the fluoride concentrations of sodas and beers in a national study after assessing the effect of carbonation on the fluoride content.

The National Fluoride Database and Intake Assessment Study (NFDIAS) is being developed to collect data for the assessment of fluoride intake from dietary and nondietary sources. This database will allow online access to an analytical survey of fluoride concentrations of foods and beverages consumed in the United States.

Methods: Sub-samples of sodas, to compare carbonated vs. decarbonated, and beers, to compare gassed vs. degassed, were analyzed in order to compare fluoride levels. Samples were analyzed using an ion specific fluoride electrode in connection with an ionanalyzer and appropriate standards and quality control.

Results: The fluoride concentration of various sodas ranged from 0.10 to 0.83ppm F. When each sample was compared before and after decarbonation, the difference for the higher fluoride samples (0.56 - 0.83ppm F) showed variation of 0.01 to 0.03ppm F. The mid-range (0.31ppm F) varied by 0.02ppm F, and the lower fluoride samples (0.10 - 0.15ppm F) varied by 0.01ppm F. Beer samples with fluoride levels of 0.28 to 0.30ppm F when compared before and after degassing showed a variation of 0.00 to 0.02ppm F, while the samples with 0.07 to 0.08ppm F varied by 0.00 to 0.01ppm F. The variations observed were within the uncertainty of the method. Based on these results, the main samples for the national study (NFDIAS) were assayed without decarbonation for sodas and without the degassing process for beers.

Conclusion: These results show that decarbonation of sodas and degassing of beers is not necessary prior to fluoride analysis.

NFDIAS is supported by USDA Grant # 58-1235-1-045

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