US Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Monday that he will direct the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to stop recommending fluoride in public water supplies across the country.
Kennedy plans to create a task force dedicated to fluoride in drinking water on top of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s plans to review “new scientific information” on the potential health risks it poses.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also said he’s assembling a task force to focus on fluoridation. AP“When this evaluation is completed, we will have an updated foundational scientific evaluation that will inform the agency’s future steps. Secretary Kennedy has long been at the forefront of this issue. His advocacy was instrumental in our decision to review fluoride exposure risks and we are committed to working alongside him, utilizing sound science as we advance our mission of protecting human health and the environment,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said.
Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, repeatedly insisted that fluoride is a “dangerous neurotoxin” tied to arthritis, bone breaks, and thyroid disease. Very few studies support Kennedy’s beliefs, while others have struggled to find a firm conclusion.
Last month, Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water in spite of warnings from dentists and national health organizations who warned that the restriction could cause medical problems.
Even so, Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed the ban into law and required that all water systems in the state shut down their fluoridation systems by May 7.
“I’m very, very proud of this state for being the first state to ban it, and I hope many more will,” Kennedy said.
Fluoride, a compound best known for strengthening teeth and reducing cavities, was first endorsed by federal officials for water fluoridation in 1950, according to the CDC. Stricter guidelines regarding how much should be added were set in 1962.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced it is reviewing “new scientific information” on potential health risks of fluoride in drinking water. APNearly two-thirds of the US population drinks fluoridated water, according to CDC data. Its addition to drinking water has been celebrated for years as a prime public health achievement.
However, overconsuming fluoride can cause problems. Drinking too much has been tied to issues like streaking or spots on teeth, and some studies have connected excess fluoride with brain development issues.
The CDC recommends 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water.
Kennedy, a former environmental lawyer, has called fluoride a “dangerous neurotoxin.” AP