Florida Becomes Second State to Ban Water Fluoridation

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill banning water fluoridation for the entire state on Tuesday, becoming the second state in the nation to do so. On the same day, DeSantis signed a bill banning the practice of geoengineering. The HighWire reported recently about the EPA’s investigation into a geoengineering company called “Make Sunsets.”

DeSantis signed the fluoride bill after it successfully passed in the Florida legislature. Utah Governor Brad Little signed a statewide ban on water fluoridation in his state at the end of March. The Fluoride Action Network has fought the battle against the practice for more than two decades, and the concept that fluoride consumption is harmful at the levels found in municipal water supplies has long been considered a conspiracy theory.

Last fall, FAN won its seven-year lawsuit against the EPA, and the judge determined that fluoride poses an “unreasonable risk to public health.” The final judgment relied upon data from a National Toxicology Program report released shortly before the ruling. The report found with “moderate confidence” that water fluoridation at 1.5 milligrams per liter is associated with lower IQ levels in children. The current EPA recommendation is 0.7 mg per liter, but the EPA cannot take action unless a water system exceeds the threshold of 4.0 mg per liter.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been advocating against fluoridation and said the Trump administration would prioritize actions to end the practice.

Last month, EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and Secretary Kennedy held a joint press conference in Salt Lake City following the statewide fluoride ban in Utah. During that press conference, Zeldin said the agency would begin reviewing the science related to community water fluoridation. Zeldin said, “Without prejudging any outcomes, when this evaluation is completed, we will have an updated foundational scientific evaluation that will inform the agency’s future steps to meet statutory obligations under the Safe Drinking Water Act.”

The EPA is required to take action in response to the federal court ruling, but as The HighWire reported, this process can take years.

Justin Robert, a Florida citizen and health freedom advocate, spoke with The HighWire about the recent push for ending water fluoridation in the state. Robert has been involved in advocacy work for 10-12 years and said the court victory against the EPA and Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo’s recommendation started the domino effect that led to the passage of this bill.

“We know that most of Florida was fluoridated,” Robert said. “I’d say most of the populated areas. However, there are 20-25 counties, another number we can’t really nail down, that never ever added it to their water. Not by county or any municipality. So, you have rural counties in the panhandle that never did it. If you’re scared there’s going to be this major dental crisis when we stop, how come we’ve never had a dental crisis in these areas that never fluoridated?” 

The American Dental Association and President Brett Kessler have long advocated for community water fluoridation. D.D.S. released a statement in November after Ladapo recommended that Florida stop fluoridating the water. Dr. Kessler said, “In a time during widespread misinformation and biased interpretation of research, the ADA remains committed to optimally fluoridating water at levels that are proven to be safe for the public.”

The HighWire reported that among the countries with the best dental health outcomes, five out of the top six don’t fluoridate the water, and about 11% of the public in the United Kingdom drinks fluoridated water. The United States, as the highest fluoridated country in the world, was ninth on the Decayed, Missing, and Filled Teeth (DMFT) report.

Robert said 20 cities and four counties in Florida have voted to remove fluoride from the water. He said eight cities voted the measure down and “there were dozens and dozens more that weren’t even willing to have the discussion.” The latest bill will force all municipalities to comply by July 1. 

“I’m not a fan of the state taking away local power, personally,” Robert said. “But in this case, where local governments have shown they’re incapable of making decisions about our health, our freedom, and still trying to force a medication upon us – in that case, I do think the state has to step in and take away their power. In essence, it’s not taking away the local government’s regular authority. They’re taking away their authority to violate their own citizens’ rights.”

Robert believes more municipalities and states nationwide will follow suit if the CDC and EPA change their guidance. Even so, the recommendations of the EPA and CDC will not force local jurisdictions to stop adding fluoride. For this reason, the battle to get fluoride out of the water will continue.

“We are trying to launch a nationwide effort,” Robert said while referring to a group called Stand for Health Freedom, of which he is a member. “Because we want to replicate what works and create a formula for other states to follow through with this, so they can do the same thing. We’ve already begun that process.

Miami-Dade County voted to stop fluoridating the water supply, but it was vetoed by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. Eight commissioners voted to override the veto on the same day Governor DeSantis signed the statewide fluoride ban into law.