Florida becomes second state to ban fluoride in public water

1 month ago

Florida becomes 2nd authorities to prohibition fluoride successful nationalist water

Florida has go nan 2nd authorities successful nan state — aft Utah — to prohibition fluoridation of nationalist h2o systems.

A MARTÍNEZ, HOST:

Florida is now nan 2nd authorities successful nan state aft Utah to prohibition putting fluoride successful each nationalist waters. Tristan Wood of personnel position WFSU reports.

TRISTAN WOOD, BYLINE: Fluoride is simply a mineral utilized to conflict cavities. It was first utilized successful municipal waterways successful America successful 1945. Recently, politicians person been pointing to a operation of fluoride studies to push for banning nan practice. One of those politicians is Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo. He says banning fluoridation is nan correct move.

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JOSEPH LADAPO: It's OK to reverse your position erstwhile there's evidence. I mean, that's nan correct point to do. You're successful a position of leadership. You're location to service people.

WOOD: The grounds he's pointing to is investigation published successful JAMA Pediatrics, which looked astatine respective studies extracurricular of nan U.S. It suggests a nexus betwixt precocious levels of fluoride and a mini alteration successful children's IQ. The magnitude of fluoride vulnerability researched successful those studies was overmuch higher than what is added to nationalist waters successful nan U.S. During nan measure signing Thursday, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said nationalist fluoridation robs group of aesculapian choices.

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RON DESANTIS: Yes, usage fluoride for your teeth. That's fine. But forcing it successful nan h2o proviso is fundamentally forced medicine connected people. They don't person a choice. You're taking that distant from them.

WOOD: Several groups, including nan Florida Dental Association, are captious of nan move. Low levels of fluoride, arsenic utilized successful drinking h2o successful nan U.S., is mostly considered safe and a cardinal portion of dental health. The association's president, Jeff Ottley, worries astir antagonistic oral wellness impacts connected group crossed Florida. He's peculiarly concerned astir mediocre children connected Medicaid because not capable dentists judge it.

JEFF OTTLEY: They're going to person an summation successful nan number of cavities, summation successful nan severity of cavities. And past because we person specified a shortage of Medicaid-providing dentists, they're going to beryllium incapable to find providers to thief return attraction of those problems.

WOOD: The Florida fluoride prohibition goes into effect July 1.

For NPR News, I'm Tristan Wood successful Tallahassee.

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