The City of Stuart in Martin County is the first city in the area to remove fluoride from drinking water, a decision that came on the heels of guidance by the state surgeon general who said there are health risks, especially to women and children.
Fluoride will be removed from the drinking water in Stuart beginning Wednesday, Dec. 4 — at least temporarily — to shield people from what state health authorities say are potentially harmful effects on their health.
The decision by the Stuart City Commission on Monday, Nov. 25 came after guidance by Florida's Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo on Friday, Nov. 22.
"Floridians should be aware of safety concerns related to systemic fluoride exposure including adverse effects in children reducing IQ, cognitive impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder," Ladapo said.
Because of these and other risks and the wide availability of other sources of fluoride for dental health, Ladapo recommended removing fluoride from drinking water.
The city has added fluoride to its drinking water since 2008 when voters agreed to it in a referendum. City commissioners must abide by the referendum, which put City Manager Michael Mortell in a pickle, he said.
Safety versus lawsuits
"Would you rather get sued for violating a referendum or for poisoning your community, specifically pregnant women and children?" Commissioner Christopher Collins asked his colleagues at Monday's meeting.
Mortell, however, responded, "I'm more concerned with the safety of the community."
The city will seek a formal opinion from the state on its dilemma before deciding whether to remove fluoride from its drinking water permanently.
Stuart will stop adding fluoride to its drinking water Tuesday morning, said Director of Utilities and Engineering Peter Kunen. It will take about a day for water in the tanks to empty, he said.
Removing fluoride nationwide?
The guidance from the state follows a nationwide controversy sparked by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., president-elect Donald Trump's pick to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Trump may try to ban fluoride from all public water supplies, Kennedy has said.
Kennedy has claimed fluoride reduces children's IQ, a claim Ladapo echoed.
Kennedy promoted health disinformation in the past, such as theories about vaccines and autism and claiming COVID-19 was meant to harm Caucasian and Black people while sparing Chinese people and Ashkenazi Jews.
The greatest health achievement
The recommendation goes against years of widespread belief that drinking water fluoridation helps prevent tooth decay.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called fluoride in drinking water one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century. Medical groups such as the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have endorsed fluoridation of water as a way toward better oral health.
More than 70% of Floridians likely drink water with fluoride in it, according to self-reported data gathered by the Florida Department of Health.
Ladapo says more research is needed
In his guidance on drinking water fluoridation, Ladapo cited recent studies from Mexico, Canada and one from the Journal of the American Medical Association Open Network that suggest fluoride exposure could be detrimental to the health of some.
“It is clear more research is necessary to address safety and efficacy concerns regarding community water fluoridation,” Ladapo said in a statement.
Current risks outweigh the benefits, he said.