People drink water from a water fountain in New York City on July 7, 2010.
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The Department of Health and Human Services has instructed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to review the addition of fluoride to U.S. water sources. This move comes after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. raised concerns about the health implications of water fluoridation.
HHS is tasking the CDC with reconvening a panel of health experts to assess the impact of fluoride in water sources and its potential risks to public health, as confirmed by NPR.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin has also pledged to review scientific evidence on the health effects of consuming fluoridated water to determine its safety.
Zeldin stated, “When this evaluation is completed, we will have an updated scientific assessment to guide the EPA’s actions under the Safe Drinking Water Act.”
The responsibility of ensuring drinking water quality in the U.S. falls under the EPA’s jurisdiction.
Kennedy, known for his controversial health views, has criticized fluoride as “industrial waste” and linked its presence in drinking water to various health issues. However, mainstream health experts assert that regulated levels of fluoride offer significant benefits to public health.
Fluoride was first added to U.S. community water supplies in 1945 after studies showed its effectiveness in reducing cavities in children. Since then, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended the addition of fluoride to public drinking water sources in 1962.
Community water fluoridation, alongside other public health measures like vaccinations, has been recognized as a major public health achievement of the 20th century, significantly reducing cavities and saving Americans from costly dental procedures.
Although the addition of fluoride is not federally mandated, new recommendations from the CDC could influence state and local governments to reconsider their fluoridation programs.
For instance, Utah recently passed a bill banning the addition of fluoride to its public water sources.
Kennedy’s call to remove fluoride from public water sources aligns with his previous controversial stands on health issues, including his support for the debunked theory linking vaccines to autism.
The HHS referenced a study from the National Toxicology Program, which suggested a potential link between excessive fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children, although the study was based on higher fluoride levels than those found in the U.S. water supply.
While water fluoridation has been a topic of debate due to health concerns, experts emphasize the benefits of fluoride in areas where dental care is limited.
For instance, Calgary, Canada, reversed its decision to remove fluoride from the water supply after experiencing a rise in dental cavities among children.
The American Dental Association cautioned against halting fluoridation based on unfounded claims, emphasizing the importance of evidence-based science in public health decisions.
The White House dismissed reports portraying the Trump Administration as anti-science for questioning the necessity of fluoride in preventing tooth decay, defending the review on fluoride as a measure to ensure public health.
