Dr. Joseph Ladapo, Florida’s Surgeon General, is urging Miami-Dade County to stop adding fluoride to the drinking water. His position has sparked significant debate, especially among dentists and health organizations who support fluoridation.
During a recent meeting, Ladapo joined University of Florida professor Ashley Malin and two dentists to share concerns about fluoride use in the water. Malin’s research indicates that fluoride may have harmful effects, particularly on children’s brain development.
“The real question is whether fluoride should be in our drinking water, and my answer is no,” Ladapo stated. He emphasized that this issue affects the health of children and pregnant women in the community.
The group presented studies suggesting a link between fluoride exposure and neurotoxicity. They referenced a recent federal ruling which mandated the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to regulate fluoride levels in drinking water, following findings that high fluoride levels could harm children’s intellectual development.
This federal decision came from a review by the National Toxicology Program, which concluded that fluoride levels exceeding 1.5 milligrams per liter might lead to lower IQ scores in children.
Despite the presentations, the committee took no action, with some members questioning the evidence against fluoridation. Commissioner Marleine Bastien expressed concerns that only one side was being represented, suggesting that research supports low fluoride levels as safe for health.
Miami-Dade County has been adding fluoride to its water since 1958. The local groundwater naturally contains about 0.2 milligrams of fluoride per liter, which the county adjusts to 0.7 milligrams to match CDC guidelines.
Commissioner Raquel Regalado reaffirmed the county’s commitment to monitoring the research surrounding water quality and fluoridation, aiming for transparency regarding the safety of Miami-Dade’s water.
This discussion comes as more communities in Florida and across the U.S. reconsider fluoride in their water systems. A bill in Florida aims to prohibit fluoridation at the local level.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral found in soil and water. It helps prevent tooth decay and has been endorsed by public health officials as a significant advancement in dental health. Currently, about 63% of Americans receive fluoridated water through community systems.
The debate over fluoride has gained traction as political figures like Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have pledged to review its use nationwide. Following this, the Florida Department of Health suggested that local governments should stop adding fluoride based on recent studies.
Utah is poised to become the first state to ban fluoride in drinking water, with Governor Spencer Cox ready to sign a legislative measure that would prohibit local control over its addition. Other cities in the U.S. are also removing fluoride from their water supplies.
