**RFK Jr Targets Fluoride in Tap Water, Dentists Issue Warning**
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is taking a stand against fluoride in public drinking water, a move that has drawn warnings from scientists and dental health organizations about potential repercussions on public health.
“Fluoride should not be present in our water,” Kennedy asserted during a visit to Salt Lake City. He commended Utah for becoming the first state to pass a ban on fluoride in public water, set to take effect next month. “I am extremely proud of this state for leading the way in banning it, and I hope others will follow suit,” he added.
Following the press conference, Kennedy mentioned to the Associated Press his intention to urge the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cease recommending the addition of fluoride to public water systems. The process of adding fluoride to water, known as fluoridation, is not mandated by law.
Lee Zeldin, the administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, stated during the press conference that the agency would promptly assess the safety of fluoride in public water systems. “Kennedy’s advocacy played a crucial role in our decision to review the risks associated with fluoride exposure,” Zeldin stated in a release.
Kennedy’s stance on fluoride has sparked controversy. He has supported assertions linking fluoride to various health conditions, such as ADHD and hypothyroidism, as well as claims of IQ reduction. However, dentists and epidemiologists have refuted these allegations as lacking scientific evidence, cautioning that removing fluoride from water systems could have serious consequences for public health.
Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association, dismissed the notion that fluoride is harmful or unnecessary as a “myth.” “When government officials, like Secretary Kennedy, endorse misinformation and mistrust peer-reviewed research, it is detrimental to public health,” Kessler remarked in a statement.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his intent to call for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending the addition of fluoride to drinking water. “Simply advocating for the prohibition of fluoridated water is harmful, costly, and will ultimately impact our economy negatively,” he emphasized.
An Age-Old Practice
For over eighty years, cities and states have been introducing fluoride into public water systems, a measure applauded by the CDC as one of the top ten public health achievements of the last century. While most bodies of water naturally contain fluoride, researchers in the 1930s determined that increasing its concentration could enhance public dental health and prevent cavities. Presently, the CDC limits the legal level of fluoride in drinking water to 0.7 milligrams per liter.
Although numerous experts affirm that this level is safe and provides the benefits of fluoride with minimal risks, Kennedy and others have highlighted recent outlier studies that have sparked debates about the mineral’s impact.
In a federal report issued last August, elevated levels of fluoride in certain countries – exceeding twice the U.S.’s maximum limit – were associated with reduced IQ
In response to the release of a report regarding the potential association between fluoride in tap water and certain health concerns, Charlotte Lewis, a member of the oral health section of the American Association of Pediatrics, stated that while further research is needed to fully comprehend the link and potential biological mechanisms, she remains unconcerned about the findings. The article was first published on USA TODAY, discussing RFK Jr.’s call for the CDC to cease recommending fluoride in tap water.
