Florida’s Surgeon General, Joseph Ladapo, is calling for local governments to stop adding fluoride to water.
“Moms and children exposed to higher levels of fluoride have experienced adverse neurologic and neuropsychiatric effects,” he said during a press conference. “I mean, it’s appalling. But it’s actually been documented in multiple studies now.”
“So, based on these findings and in recognition of the fact that there are other sources of fluoride that people in communities have access to, whether it’s brushing with fluoridated toothpaste or whether it’s using a fluoride mouthwash, and there are other sources too, people go to the dentist and receive fluoride there, it is public health malpractice, with the information we have now to continue adding fluoride to water systems in Florida.”
“It is public health malpractice,” Ladapo reiterated. “And so we are issuing guidance to every community, every municipality, every county in Florida, to stop adding fluoride to their community water systems.”
“Due to the neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure, particularly in pregnant women and children, and the wide availability of alternative sources of fluoride for dental health, the State Surgeon General recommends against community water fluoridation,” Ladapo’s guidance says.
The guidance explains that an August report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Toxicology Program (NTP) evaluating total fluoride exposure from all sources found that “some pregnant women and children may be receiving more fluoride than necessary due to fluoride exposure from multiple sources, including treated public water, water-added foods and beverages, teas, toothpaste, floss, and mouthwash.”
As a result of abundant fluoride exposure, “combined total intake of fluoride may exceed safe amounts.”
“While there is insufficient data to determine if the lower level of 0.7 milligrams per liter, currently recommended for U.S. community water systems, has a negative impact on children’s IQ, the report concludes that there is moderate confidence in the scientific evidence that points to an association between higher levels of fluoride consumption and lower IQ in children,” the guidance adds.
