Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is pushing for a controversial goal to end fluoride in public water, tapping into concerns about the chemical’s health impacts that gained traction after recent federal rulings.
Annie Snider reports for Politico.
In short:
- Kennedy's plan aligns with a recent court ruling suggesting that fluoride poses health risks, particularly to developing brains and could give the Trump administration a path to remove it.
- Health experts remain divided, with groups like the American Dental Association asserting that fluoride in water has significantly reduced tooth decay, especially for those lacking dental care.
- Fluoride was once championed as a key public health achievement, but new evidence links long-term exposure to developmental issues, adding fuel to Kennedy's mission.
Key quote:
“We should not be exposing all fetuses and infants to something that can impact their brains.”
— Linda Birnbaum, former director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences
Why this matters:
With emerging evidence suggesting potential developmental issues linked to fluoride exposure, momentum could favor fluoride restrictions. Fluoridation, once untouchable, is now a flashpoint in public health, stirring up debate over what’s safe, what’s necessary and how much we can trust our water. Read more: It is time to protect kids’ developing brains from fluoride.
