Public Health Debate: Fluoride in Drinking Water
For About 50 Years, Yorktown Added Cavity-Preventing Fluoride to Drinking Water
For about 50 years, adding cavity-preventing fluoride to drinking water was a popular public health measure in Yorktown, a leafy town north of New York City. However, in September, the town’s supervisor used his emergency powers to stop the practice.
Reason: A Recent Federal Judge’s Decision
The reason for the change is a recent federal judge’s decision that ordered U.S. regulators to consider the risk that fluoride in water could cause lower IQ in kids.
Yorktown Isn’t Alone
Yorktown isn’t alone. The decision to add fluoride to drinking water rests with state and local officials, and fights are cropping up nationwide. Communities in Florida, Texas, Oregon, Utah, Wyoming, and elsewhere have debated the idea in recent months.
Debates Ignited or Fueled by Three Developments
The debates have been ignited or fueled by three developments:
- In August, a federal agency reported "with moderate confidence" that there is a link between high levels of fluoride exposure — more than twice the recommended limit — and lower IQ in kids.
- In September, a federal judge ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children.
- This month, just days before the election, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. declared that Donald Trump would push to remove fluoride from drinking water on his first day as president.
Fluoride is a Public Health Success Story but Opposition Persists
Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and the addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
Opposition is Nothing New
Opposition is nothing new, though for decades it was considered a fringe opinion. Adherents included conspiracy theorists who claimed fluoridation was a plot to make people submissive to government power.
U.S. Towns Wrestle with What to Do
Many people in health care strongly embrace water fluoridation. The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics reaffirmed their endorsement of current CDC recommendations in the wake of the federal report and the judge’s ruling.
Colorado’s Health Department Weighs In
Colorado’s health department, which weighed in during a Nov. 5 Durango city council meeting, said in a statement that it "seeks to align its public health recommendations with the latest scientific research. The facts of this court ruling are not sufficient" to revise current fluoridation levels.
Debates Have Become Heated
In Monroe, Wisconsin, fluoridation "has become a very hot issue," said its mayor, Donna Douglas. The small city, near Madison, started fluoridating its drinking water in the early 1960s. But in the late summer, some residents began calling and emailing Douglas, saying she needed to do something about what they saw as a public health danger.
Conclusion
The debate over fluoride in drinking water has become a heated issue, with some communities deciding to stop adding it to their water supply. While the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics still endorse current CDC recommendations, the decision to add fluoride to drinking water rests with state and local officials.
FAQs
Q: What is the recommended level of fluoride in drinking water?
A: The recommended level of fluoride in drinking water is 0.7 milligrams per liter.
Q: What are the benefits of fluoride in drinking water?
A: Fluoride in drinking water strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear.
Q: What are the risks associated with fluoride in drinking water?
A: Some studies have suggested a link between high levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids.
Q: What is the current state of the debate over fluoride in drinking water?
A: The debate over fluoride in drinking water is ongoing, with some communities deciding to stop adding it to their water supply and others continuing to endorse its use.
