Utah has become the first US state to ban fluoride from all public drinking water, backing controversial plans from Robert F Kennedy Jr.
The law was signed Thursday by Governor Spencer Cox and will go into effect May 7 for all public drinking water systems.
Fluoride was added to US water in 1940s after scientists found that people with higher levels of the mineral had fewer cavities.
According to the latest CDC data, nearly half of Utah residents with public water access drink fluoridated water, while half does not.
Gov Cox said Thursday that between those two groups, ‘you think you would see drastically different outcomes. We haven’t.’
Health Secretary RFK Jr has also long called for the mineral to be stripped from America’s water supply, claiming it causes bone cancer, IQ loss, and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism.
Last year, Florida became the first state to recommend removing fluoride from water systems over Kennedy’s claims.
The research on fluoride’s potential health effects is mixed, and many experts have claimed the evidence is unclear and the dental benefits of fluoride outweight potential risks.
Utah has become the first state to ban fluoride from public water systems beginning May 7. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr (pictured here) is one of the main opponents of the mineral, arguing it can cause IQ loss, cancer, and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism (file photo)
Fluoride was added to US water in 1940s after scientists found that people with higher levels of the mineral had fewer cavities. Nearly half of Utah’s residents with public water access drink fluoridated water (stock image)
Fluoride makes teeth more resistant to substances that can wear down enamel – like citrus, sugary foods and carbonated beverages – which thin and weaken teeth and make them more sensitive.
This, in turn, prevents cavities and other dental infections.
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