When they were debating the pros and cons of adding a compound of fluorine to drinking water, I don’t remember anyone bringing up the question: “Will waterways and the oceans see a build up of the fluorine compounds over time and will humans realize that there will be no way to remove them from the water? And what will the effect be on fish and whales?”
I was too young to have thought of that question at that time.
Flourine and flouride are not the same.
“Fluorine is an element, while fluoride is an ion derived from fluorine. Fluorine is a reactive gas, while fluoride is a stable ion. Fluoride is commonly used in dental care and other applications, while fluorine is primarily used in industrial processes.”