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By T. J. Muscaro via The Epoch Times (emphasis on ours),
Florida surgeon General Joseph Ladapo issued a new instruction on Nov. 22 advising against the long-standing practice of including fluoride in public drinking water supply.
“Adding fluoride to water increases the risk of neuropsychiatric diseases in children and reduces their IQ,” Ladapo said in post X. “We can strengthen teeth without consuming this neurotoxin.”
In its guidance, Ladapo argues that fluoride, which is known to strengthen teeth and make them more resistant to decay, is “widely available from multiple sources,” such as toothpaste and mouthwash, and cites several studies that found a link between negative mental side effects and exposure to fluoride in childhood and during pregnancy.
These side effects include association with lower IQ, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), as well as decreased inhibitory control in the child and cognitive flexibility.
His guidance also referenced a report published in August 2024 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program, which also recommended a link between fluorinated water and lower IQ in children, and a U.S. District Court ruling that found that “fluoridation of 0.7 milligrams per liter of community water poses an unreasonable risk of harm to health under the Revised Toxic Substances Control Act” and called on the Environmental Protection Agency to take action.
The chief surgeon announced his position at Winter Haven, Florida, which recently announced his decision to remove fluoride from his public water supply.
Winter Haven Commissioner Brad Dantzler said the district judge’s decision in September and the possible appointment of Rober F. Kennedy Jr. as head of the Department of Health and Human Services are reasons why fluoride should likely be removed from the city’s drinking water. Kennedy has previously argued for fluoride to be removed from the entire state’s water supply.
Ladapo admitted at his press conference that he was previously in favor of fluoridation, which was considered a public health measure. But the toxicology report and the district court’s decision prompted him to reinvestigate the matter, and he said he was shocked by the findings.
“Because of the neuropsychiatric risk associated with exposure to fluoride, especially in pregnant women and children, and the widespread availability of alternative fluoride sources for dental health, the National Chief Surgeon recommends avoiding community water fluoridation,” the guidance said.
Ladapo’s guidance also said the Ministry of Health recognized the benefits of fluoride and supported “oral and general health” through other means such as expanding education, screening and functioning of dental services in schools, and promoting healthier habits in communities across the state.
Water systems in more than 70 percent of Florida communities currently receive fluorinated water.
