Utah bans fluoride in public drinking water, a first in the US
apnews.com
Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water, despite widespread opposition from dentists and national health organizations. Republican Gov.

Summary

Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water after Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed legislation prohibiting local decisions on fluoridation.

Cox cited cost and personal choice, likening fluoride to government “medication.”

The ban faces opposition from dentists and health experts, who argue fluoride prevents cavities and benefits low-income communities.

Nearly two-thirds of Americans receive fluoridated water. Some cities have already removed fluoride, and a recent court order requires the EPA to regulate high levels that may affect children’s intellectual development.

  • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
    3·
    4 days ago

    I’d disagree. The logistics of tiny local delivery would be massive. The dosing would be inconsistent. And we’d be putting the burden of doing it on already over burdened and struggling families.

    • Tehdastehdas@lemmy.worldEnglish
      11·
      4 days ago

      Logistics: Stores sell “child teething fluoride essence, one squirt per glass, pocket size”, price subsidised.

      I think it’s worth the upside of increased intelligence, which Americans clearly need.

      … 21 of 23 recent epidemiological studies report an association between high fluoride exposure and reduced intelligence. The discrepancy between experimental and epidemiological evidence may be reconciled with deficiencies inherent in most of these epidemiological studies on a putative association between fluoride and intelligence, especially with respect to adequate consideration of potential confounding factors, e.g., socioeconomic status, residence, breast feeding, low birth weight, maternal intelligence, and exposure to other neurotoxic chemicals.

      https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-020-02725-2

      • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
        4·
        4 days ago

        First you need to define “high”. The dose makes the poison. High amounts of water are deadly.

        There’s zero evidence that flouride at the levels found in public water is anything but positive. And your quote agrees with this. Did you just clip it without reading?

        • Tehdastehdas@lemmy.worldEnglish
          11·
          4 days ago

          I assume fluorine is one of the many “any dose matters” slow poisons for the brain in which there is no safe dose, only undetectable in insufficiently controlled studies of intelligence development over decades.

          • surewhynotlem@lemmy.worldEnglish
            1·
            4 days ago

            You’re allowed to assume whatever you like. For example, I assume meat is toxic and everyone who eats it dies earlier than they should.