Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently made statements suggesting that a potential Trump White House would advise communities to remove fluoride from drinking water, a decision that would go against decades of public health guidance. Fluoride is a mineral found in water that can help prevent cavities when ingested in the right doses. However, long-term ingestion of fluoride in excess doses can carry various health risks, which has led to criticism of community water fluoridation by individuals like Kennedy. The EPA has set a maximum allowable concentration of fluoride in public drinking water to prevent adverse health effects, but Kennedy claims that the Trump White House would advise bringing that allowable concentration to zero.
There has been a long history of the promotion of water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, with federal officials endorsing the practice in 1950, and even continuing to support it after fluoride toothpaste became popular. However, experts warn that ingesting fluoride poses risks, including potentially harmful neurotoxic effects. In light of these concerns, health agencies lowered their recommendation for drinking water fluoride levels in 2015 to address a condition called fluorosis. A federal agency determined in August that higher levels of fluoride exposure are linked to lower IQ in children, prompting a federal judge in September to order the EPA to further regulate fluoride due to concerns about adverse health effects, particularly in children.
Kennedy has claimed that Trump “promised” him control over public health agencies if he were to win the White House, suggesting that he would have authority over the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Kennedy has expressed a desire to address conflicts and corruption in these agencies and restore evidence-based science practices. However, the Trump campaign has stated that no decisions have been made regarding Cabinet-level positions or personnel, including the secretaries of HHS and USDA. Despite this, Trump has indicated that he would work with individuals like Kennedy to address public health and establish a special Presidential Commission to investigate the increase in chronic illnesses.
The World Health Organization has set a safe limit for fluoride in drinking water, and the EPA has a longstanding requirement that water systems cannot exceed a certain level of fluoride concentration. Kennedy’s views regarding fluoride and public health have drawn criticism from experts, particularly given his history of clashing with scientific consensus on vaccine safety. While Kennedy and Trump have expressed intentions to prioritize public health, there are concerns about the potential implications of removing fluoride from public water supplies. The debate surrounding fluoride in drinking water continues as experts and officials weigh the potential risks and benefits for public health.
