Fort Pierce, Ormond Beach and Immokalee, Fla., have opted to discontinue water fluoridation in their communities, according to recent reports.
Eight notes:
1. The Fort Pierce Utilities Authority stopped adding fluoride to its drinking water following recommendations made by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, in November, CBS12 reported Jan. 24.
2. The Ormond Beach City Commission voted unanimously Jan. 21 to stop adding fluoride to its water system, the Daytona Beach News-Journal reported Jan. 24.
3. Ormond Beach officials will now have to create an ordinance for the matter and conduct first and second readings.
4. The Immokalee Water & Sewer District voted unanimously to suspend its water fluoridation Jan. 15, citing a need for additional research on the practice's safety and efficacy, NBC2 reported Jan. 23.
5. The suspension of fluoridation will save Immokalee approximately $8,000 each year, which the district is considering pouring back into community organizations that provide dental services, according to Sarah Catala, the executive director of the Immokalee Water & Sewer District.
6. Several other Florida cities voted to end water fluoridation after Dr. Ladapo's comments, including Melbourne, Naples, Tavares, Stuart and Port St. Lucie.
7. Dr. Ladapo's recommendation cited research linking high fluoride exposure to negative health impacts, particularly on vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant people. However, this research has been heavily criticized by state and national dental organizations.
8. A federal judge ruled in September that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must address the impact that fluoride has in drinking water. EPA appealed the ruling earlier this month after being urged to do so by a coalition of several oral health organizations.