Fluoride - Florida is Changing Its Drinking Water
An article about communities removing fluoride from their water was published on Feb. 5, 2025. Here is a summary of the copyright Newsweek article, Florida is Changing Its Drinking Water:
"Florida has started removing fluoride from drinking water following guidance from the state's surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, at the end of last year."
This article looks at the discussion of fluoride added to drinking water to prevent tooth decay, because it strengthens the tooth enamel. In Florida, the state's surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, has advised the removal of fluoride, reflecting "a growing skepticism toward government-backed health policies, a trend that has gained traction in recent years."
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services, has been a vocal critic of water fluoridation, arguing that it poses health risks despite scientific consensus on its benefits.
In November of 2024 there was a call to stop adding fluoride to Florida's drinking water by Lapado, due to "risks that his guidance said were associated with fluoride exposure."
Fluoridation is extremely common in many US municipalities and in Europe, though "several European countries, including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway and Sweden, have eliminated water fluoridation, according to a report by the DCU Water Institute in Dublin."
In Lapado's opinion, excessive fluoride exposure can lead to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), disturbed sleep, potential thyroid problems, and weakened bones (skeletal fluorosis). This is counter to the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that all agree that water fluoridation is effective and safe.
Several cities and counties in Florida have voted to remove fluoride from drinking water, including Lee and Collier Counties, the cities of Naples, Immokalee, Everglades City, and Marco Island. Several local governments in the Tampa Bay area have started the debate about fluoridated water. Other cities and counties are expected to take up the discussion in coming months.
Other sources of information on this topic:
- Is Fluoride in Drinking Water Healthy for Kids? from Environmental Working Group (EWG)
- Critical review of any new evidence on the hazard profile, health effects, and human exposure to fluoride and the fluoridating agents of drinking water, a lengthy document from the Scientific Committee on Health and Environmental Risks (SCHER)