Florida set to become 2nd state banning fluoride in water

    0
    0

    TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida is on the verge of becoming the second state in the United States to prohibit the addition of fluoride to public drinking water systems, sparking concern among dentists and public health experts who argue that fluoride is a proven, safe method for preventing tooth decay across all ages. Lawmakers in Florida gave their final nod to the legislation on Tuesday, following Utah’s lead, which became the first state to enact such a prohibition last month. These moves are part of a broader campaign spearheaded by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., aiming to halt water fluoridation nationwide.

    The proposed legislation will soon land on the desk of Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, whose administration has been vocal about the potential risks associated with fluoride, particularly regarding its impact on children’s cognitive development at high exposure levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) highlight that fluoride plays a crucial role in dental health by replenishing minerals lost from teeth through everyday wear. They consider the introduction of small quantities of fluoride in drinking water to be one of the major public health accomplishments of the past century.

    The president of the American Dental Association, Brett Kessler, voiced his concerns earlier this month, emphasizing the negative impacts that the removal of fluoride could have. “As dentists, we see the immediate consequences of eliminating fluoride on our patients. It’s truly tragic when policymakers’ decisions negatively affect both children and adults over time,” Kessler stated. “An uninformed push to ban fluoride in water not only harms people but also bears financial and economic repercussions.”

    The Florida legislative bill, though it doesn’t explicitly name fluoride, encompasses the removal of this mineral along with other additives from state water supplies, explained Republican state Representative Kaylee Tuck, who sponsored the bill. Tuck clarified, “We are not interfering with issues related to water quality or contaminant removal. It’s a matter of health-related substances like fluoride, vitamins, or similar elements.”

    In anticipation of the state legislature’s action, some local governments within Florida have already voted to stop adding fluoride to their community water systems. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava expressed her disappointment with the bill’s passage, noting that it ignores the unified stance of dental and medical professionals who have long endorsed fluoridation as a measure to safeguard public health over decades.

    Levine Cava warned of the “far-reaching health consequences” likely to emerge from halting fluoridation, especially affecting families who are most vulnerable. She suggested that the decision to fluoridate water should rest with local authorities. Currently, approximately one-third of community water systems in the U.S., which serve more than 60% of the population, incorporate fluoride into their water supply, according to a 2022 report by the CDC.