The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will reexamine the safety of fluoride in drinking water — marking a win for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has long pushed to end the practice.
Ellie Borst and Ariel Wittenberg report for E&E News.
In short:
- EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said Kennedy prompted the agency to revisit fluoride’s neurotoxicity, citing new studies linking exposure to IQ loss in children similar to lead.
- While Kennedy celebrates the move as a MAHA (Make America Healthy Again) priority, critics worry his cuts to U.S. Health and Human Services programs indicate a contradictory record on protecting kids.
- The decision follows a federal court ruling requiring EPA to act on the risk posed by current fluoride levels, but experts fear Kennedy’s involvement could politicize the science.
Key quote:
“There are a few things I agree with Kennedy about, but the way things are playing out I’m really troubled."
— Bruce Lanphear, toxicologist who has studied the health effects of fluoride and lead
Why this matters:
Fluoride in drinking water has long been hailed as a public health win, but more recent science shows potential harm to developing brains. While Kennedy celebrates this as a victory for kids’ health, he’s simultaneously slashing budgets for lead abatement and oral health programs. The contradictions warrant continued scrutiny, particularly as the EPA tunes into Kennedy's priorities.
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