Instant tea may be a source of harmful levels of fluoride that can lead to bone pain, researchers discovered after they looked into the case of a woman who drank one to two gallons of super-strength tea daily. Scientists say it’s not the country’s biggest dietary problem. But it does make the point “all things in moderation,” said lead researcher Dr. Michael Whyte of the Washington University School of Medicine. He said the study tested 10 brands of instant tea at regular-strength levels in fluoride-free water; they didn’t test brewed or bottled tea. Fluoride levels ranged from 1.0 to 6.5 parts per million. The maximum level allowed in drinking water by the Environmental Protection Agency (news - web sites) is 4 ppm.
