RFK Jr. plans to direct CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he plans to direct the CDC to stop recommending

water fluoridation in communities across the country. He also stated that a task force of

health experts will be assembled to review the issue and offer updated guidance. RFK Jr. made

the announcement Monday in Salt Lake City alongside EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, who also announced

his agency will review new scientific information on the potential health risks of fluoride in

drinking water. While Kennedy does not have the authority to mandate an end defloridation

at the local level, he can influence policy through the CDC and work with the EPA on regulatory

changes. The move to unveil the plan in Utah also has significance. Last month, the state became the

first in the U.S. to ban fluoride in all public water systems, a law which Kennedy expressed

support for. The CDC currently recommends adding 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water

According to the agency nearly two of Americans receive fluoridated drinking water The practice first endorsed by federal officials in 1950 has been credited by the American Dental Association with helping to prevent tooth decay However Kennedy a former environmental lawyer has raised concerns about the safety of fluoride referring to it as a potential neurotoxin

Some studies have examined links between high fluoride exposure and health issues, such as arthritis, bone fractures, and thyroid disorders

though this research usually involves testing higher-than-recommended fluoride levels. A 2023 report by the National Toxicology Program found an association between fluoride levels above 1.5 milligrams per liter and reduced IQ in children

though the quality and conclusiveness of the data has been debated within the scientific community

The EPA indicated examining any possible risks of water fluoridation would be a priority for the agency

as bills similar to Utah's ban of the practice have been introduced in Tennessee, North Dakota, and Montana

Meanwhile, the Utah Oral Health Coalition is voicing opposition to the removal of fluoride from drinking water

and is urging other states to push back on these bans. For Straight Arrow News, I'm Jack Elmer