OAN Staff James Meyers
2:37 PM – Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Utah is set to become the first state to ban fluoride from being added into public tap water.
On Monday, the governor of “the Beehive State,” Spencer Cox (R-Utah), announced that he would sign a bill banning the chemical in drinking water throughout Utah.
“It’s not a bill I felt strongly about; it’s not a bill I care that much about, but it’s a bill I will sign,” Cox told ABC4 Utah. The bill, according to the Wall Street Journal, is scheduled to take effect in May.
The bill comes just weeks after Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly expressed his doubts about the alleged benefits of fluoride in water.
“We don’t need fluoride in our water,” he stated on NPR’s Morning Edition. “It’s a very bad way to deliver it into our systems.”
In 2015, the U.S. Public Health Service recommended lowering fluoridation in water to 0.7 milligrams per liter nationwide.
During a recent NBC interview, Kennedy told the network he would be in support of it being removed.
“I think fluoride is on its way out … I’m not going to compel anybody to take it out, but I’m going to advise the water districts. I’m going to give them good information about the science, and I think fluoride will disappear.”
However, those opposed to the ban claim that researchers have found that community water fluoridation prevents close to 25% of tooth decay. However, other studies dispute that claim.
“While fluoride is generally beneficial for dental health, excessive fluoride intake can lead to several negative effects. These include:
Dental Fluorosis: This is a cosmetic condition that causes white or brown spots on the teeth due to excessive fluoride intake during tooth development.
Skeletal Fluorosis: This is a bone disease that occurs when fluoride accumulates in the bones, making them brittle and prone to fractures.
Acute Fluoride Poisoning: Ingesting large amounts of fluoride can lead to nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and even death.
Neurological Effects: Some studies have suggested that excessive fluoride intake may affect brain development and cognitive function in children, lowering of IQ.
Endocrine Disruption: Fluoride has been linked to hormonal imbalances, particularly affecting the thyroid gland.
Cardiovascular Disease: Some studies have associated high fluoride intake with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Other Potential Negative Effects: Altered immune function, Kidney damage, Arthritis, and Diabetes.
It’s important to note that the risk of experiencing these negative effects is low when fluoride is consumed within recommended limits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a fluoride level of 0.7 parts per million (ppm) in public water supplies for optimal dental health,” according to a Google AI overview of the negative effects.
American Dental Association President Brad Kessler chimed in to express his view of fluoride.
“We’ve got tried and true evidence of the safety and efficacy of this public health initiative,” said Kessler.
Meanwhile, over 200 million people in the United States, or close to 63% of the U.S. population, receive fluoridated water through community water systems.
The bill was also supported by a Utah teenager who pleaded with lawmakers to pass the bill after suffering a medical emergency when a fluoride pump in Sandy, Utah, malfunctioned in 2019 — releasing an excessive amount of the mineral into the drinking water.
Furthermore, opponents have said banning fluoride could affect “low-income residents who rely on public drinking water having fluoride” as their only source of dental care.
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