Utah becomes the first state to ban fluoride from public drinking water
Utah Becomes First State in U.S. to Ban Fluoride in Public Drinking Water Systems
Utah has made history by becoming the first state in the United States to ban the addition of fluoride to its public drinking water systems. The decision comes as concerns about the decades-long practice of water fluoridation continue to grow, fueled in part by the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement.
Republican Governor Spencer Cox signed the legislation on Thursday, which bars cities and communities from deciding whether to add fluoride to their water systems. The bill, passed by the legislature last month, is set to go into effect on May 7.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear. However, critics have long argued that ingesting fluoride can have harmful neurotoxic effects, despite its benefits for dental health.
The fluoride used in public water systems is typically sourced from the phosphate fertilizer industry to prevent environmental emissions, rather than occurring naturally. Governor Cox, who grew up and raised his own children in a community without fluoridated water, recently likened the practice to being “medicated” by the government.
Lawmakers in Utah who pushed for the ban cited the high cost of adding fluoride to water systems and the lack of significant improvement in dental health outcomes. Representative Stephanie Gricius, the bill’s sponsor, emphasized the importance of individual choice when it comes to prescriptions put into our bodies.
According to Gricius, only two of Utah’s 29 counties currently practice community water fluoridation, and research has shown no significant difference in children’s dental decay rates between counties that add fluoride and those that do not. The American Dental Association criticized Governor Cox and Utah lawmakers for their decision, stating that cavities are the most common chronic childhood disease.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal opponent of water fluoridation, citing its association with various health risks. Kennedy, a prominent figure in the MAHA movement, aims to improve nutrition, eliminate toxins, preserve natural habitats, and combat the chronic disease epidemic in the country.
If Kennedy were to succeed in banning fluoride nationwide, it would overturn a policy first enacted 80 years ago when Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first city in the world to fluoridate its water supply. Currently, approximately 200 million Americans, or about 75% of the population, consume fluoridated water.
In light of growing concerns about fluoride’s potential health risks, states including Ohio, South Carolina, and Florida have proposed restrictions on water fluoridation. However, similar measures in New Hampshire, Tennessee, and North Dakota were rejected, while a proposal in Kentucky to make fluoridation optional stalled in the state Senate.
The decision in Utah to ban fluoride in public drinking water systems reflects a broader trend of reevaluating the practice of water fluoridation in the United States. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how other states will address the issue in the future.
For more health-related articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health. Michael Dorgan is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business. You can send tips to michael.dorgan@fox.com and follow him on Twitter @M_Dorgan.
