Unanimous vote ends water fluoridation in Florida city
Lakeland, Florida, officials have decided to cease adding fluoride to its public drinking water following a vote by the city’s commission.
The city began water fluoridation efforts in 1981, according to a news article from LkldNow. Lakeland has continued to add 0.7 milligrams per liter of fluoride to its public drinking water, adhering to standards set by the U.S. Public Health Service and safety limits set by the World Health Organization.
Prior to the vote, proponents of community water fluoridation, including dental and medical professionals, urged the commissioners to keep its water fluoridation practices to prevent cavities in children. They also cautioned the commissioners to disregard misinformation spread by Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s surgeon general, regarding recent studies that suggested a link between fluoride exposure and lower IQs. In the studies Mr. Ladapo references, experts emphasized that the findings weren’t grounded in high-quality scientific evidence and utilized data from regions of foreign countries with naturally occurring fluoride levels that far exceed water safety limits.
Although some of the commissioners noted the dental health benefits of fluoride, they cited in their decision concerns regarding the recent studies and indicated that families in Lakeland should have the right to decide whether they should consume fluoride.
According to a news report from MSN, the fluoride pumps were immediately turned off following the unanimous vote in Lakeland. The ADA emphasizes that water fluoridation reduces the rate of tooth decay by up to 25% in both children and adults. Advocates for fluoride have warned that the decision could increase the incidence of dental issues across the city.
Read more: LkldNow
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