January 1, States Push Back Against Water Fluoride

Wyatt’s Take

• Seventeen states tried to ban fluoride in water this year; Utah and Florida passed new laws.
• Research and court rulings claim health risks, especially for children’s IQ.
• Many local communities chose to remove fluoride despite pushback from health officials.

More states and towns are moving to end fluoride in their water, saying new science proves risks outweigh benefits. Leaders like Florida’s surgeon general warn about toxic effects, even as big dental groups push back.

A federal judge forced the EPA to toughen rules on fluoride, saying it’s an “unreasonable risk” to children. Now, the EPA is fighting the ruling as more cities, like Melbourne, Florida, pull fluoride out of their supply.

Mayor Paul Alfrey of Melbourne said, “You have a right to know what’s in your water and what is necessary to be in your water. So that really should be your choice.” He and others say fluoride started as a way for industry to dump hazardous waste, not help health.

Supporters claim fluoride keeps cavities away, but critics say studies showing harm are ignored. Dr. Johnny Johnson, a Florida dentist, insists there is no proven link between fluoride and lower IQ or fractures: “The worst thing is they’ve never allowed their data to be evaluated by independent researchers. And a group in this country worked for two years trying to get that data and eventually the university that houses it said, ‘No, you’re not getting it’,” Johnson says.

Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo disagrees, calling most pro-fluoride claims “totally bogus” and pointing to dozens of studies showing risk.

This year alone, 17 states tried to ban fluoride in public water. So far, only Utah and Florida passed laws, but over 60 towns stopped using it in the past year.

A federal court is now making the EPA treat fluoride as a toxin that threatens children’s health. High officials, including Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., want an end to public water fluoridation. The fight is far from over, with agencies like the EPA appealing on one side and local Americans making their voices heard on the other.

Read more at Just The News

Wyatt Matters

This debate is about who gets to decide what goes into your family’s water. Folks in the heartland know the value of local control and standing up to powerful agencies or industries.