Article Summary –
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. plans to stop recommending water fluoridation by directing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to change its guidelines, supported by a task force to reassess the scientific evidence, while the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reviews fluoride’s potential health risks. Fluoride has historically been praised for reducing cavities and strengthening teeth, but excessive levels have been linked to health concerns such as dental fluorosis and potential effects on IQ in children, prompting some communities to cease fluoridation due to health and economic reasons. Despite these shifts, many communities continue fluoridation with funding mechanisms like water rates, though smaller or rural communities might face greater financial challenges without CDC’s oral health programs, which have recently been impacted by government staffing cuts under the Trump administration.
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is advocating for an end to water fluoridation, seeking to influence government policy to support this initiative.
This week, Kennedy declared his intention to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to halt its nationwide fluoridation recommendations. He is also forming a task force of health specialists to evaluate the issue and propose new guidelines.
Concurrently, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will review new scientific data on potential health risks associated with fluoride in drinking water, as it regulates the maximum allowable level in public systems.
The benefits of fluoride
The CDC states that fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by restoring lost minerals. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation, with guidelines set in 1962. Drinking water is the primary fluoride source in the U.S., with nearly two-thirds of Americans receiving fluoridated water. The American Dental Association credits it with over a 25% reduction in tooth decay.
According to a 2022 CDC analysis, 17,000 out of 51,000 community water systems fluoridate their water, serving more than 60% of the U.S. population.
The potential problems of too much fluoride
The CDC’s current recommendation is 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter. Excessive fluoride has been linked to dental streaking and potential brain development issues. A federal report highlighted that water with over 1.5 milligrams per liter could be associated with lower IQs in children. A federal judge has ordered further EPA regulation on fluoride due to potential risks.
Kennedy has railed against fluoride
Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has criticized fluoride as a “dangerous neurotoxin.” He associates it with arthritis, bone fractures, and thyroid issues. Though some studies support these links at high fluoride levels, evidence quality is often debated, and conclusive findings are lacking.
How fluoride recommendations can be changed
CDC recommendations are influential but not mandatory. State and local governments determine fluoride addition levels, provided they stay below the EPA’s 4 milligrams per liter limit. Kennedy can influence CDC recommendations but cannot mandate local actions. Public health law expert Lawrence Gostin suggests that altering recommendations without clear scientific backing could damage public trust.
Kennedy has initiated a task force to reassess fluoride, while planning to instruct the CDC to withdraw current recommendations.
Some places are already pulling back on fluoridation
Utah recently banned fluoride in drinking water, and other states are reconsidering. An AP analysis shows many communities have ceased fluoridation recently. Over six years, 734 water systems in 36 states stopped fluoridating, with cost savings as a primary motive.
CDC funding for fluoride is typically a small factor
Since 2003, 15 states have received CDC funding for oral health programs, which supports fluoridation data collection and assistance but not chemical purchases. Recent budget cuts eliminated the CDC’s Division of Oral Health, raising questions about future funding. While fluoridation is relatively affordable, cutting CDC funding may impact smaller communities more significantly.
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