This week, the Yakima Health District board held a detailed discussion on the merits and drawbacks of introducing fluoride into community water supplies. The special session on Wednesday was guided by the health district’s environmental health director, a health board member, and the interim district health officer. Moving forward, the board pledged to maintain a watchful eye on the matter. Fluoride, a mineral known to safeguard dental health, has been a topic of controversy in recent times.
Across the 18 municipalities in Yakima County, eight have adopted fluoride in their public water systems. This includes Selah, Yakima, Toppenish, Wapato, Sunnyside, Mabton, Terrace Heights, and Zillah, as informed by the health district. The choice of incorporating fluoride into public water systems rests with the individual communities in Washington state, generally supervised by municipal councils within the Yakima County.
Investigating the potential impacts of halting the water fluoridation process, five out of seven Pasco city council members approved a relevant study recently. The law mandates that public water systems planning alterations to fluoridation procedures provide at least 90 days advance notice to the consumers before voting or making this decision, as per the state’s Department of Health.
The issue revolving around fluoride has lately witnessed a surge in interest, partially due to comments from the U.S. Health Secretary. In April, he announced intentions to advise the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention against advocating for nationwide water fluoridation. His proposal includes forming a team of health experts tasked with examining the matter and providing updated guidelines. He referred to fluoride as a ‘dangerous neurotoxin’.
The state of Utah set a precedent by banning the fluoridation of water supplied by its public water systems from May 7. Joining Utah, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill in the same month restricting local governments from single-handedly introducing fluoride into public drinking water. Meanwhile, in at least two other states, legislative members proposed bills aimed at terminating the addition of fluoride to water served by public water systems.
In a parallel development, a federal district judge in California ruled against the Environmental Protection Agency in September. The judge urged revisiting the process of community water fluoridation, particularly concerning possible health risks associated with the existing recommended fluoride levels. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named the addition of minimal fluoride to water systems as one of the largest public health successes of the previous century.
Water fluoridation helps to augment dental strength and curtailing tooth decay by approximately a quarter in both children and adults. Other benefits of water fluoridation include a decrease in pertinent health issues due to poor oral hygiene, consumer savings on healthcare costs relating to dental wellness, with a broader benefit to those with limited access to dental care. All these facts were part of the meeting’s discussion.
Fluoride can be naturally found in almost all water sources, although at relatively low levels in the Yakima Valley. The standards for the advised levels of fluoride in drinking water have been in place since 1962 to promote dental wellness, though it’s not statutory. The optimal fluoride level to prevent tooth decay and mitigate the chance of dental fluorosis, as suggested by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, overseeing the national water fluoridation program, is 0.7 milligrams per liter.
Fluoridation at the proposed level has been verified to reduce tooth decay in children and adults by approximately 25%. Among other advantages are the equitable health benefits and the cost-effectiveness of the measure. Fluoridation has won endorsement from leading health organizations. However, questions around ethical implications, public consent, perceived disagreements, and implementation obstacles were also part of the discourse.
Notwithstanding the benefits, excessively consuming fluoride while teeth are developing in young children can lead to dental fluorosis. The outer enamel layer can manifest white flecks, spots, or lines. Scientifically, it’s been established that community water fluoridation assists in preventing tooth decay.
An intriguing question addressed during the dialogue centered around the cumulative fluoride intake of individuals. Besides water, a person might ingest fluoride through other sources such as toothpaste, beverages, and miscellaneous products. As pointed out during the discussion, gaining a precise measure is a complex task.
Scientific exploration into the alleged correlation between fluoride intake and children’s IQ scoring formed a crucial part of the conversation. The consensus expressed concern over any substance that could potentially lower a child’s IQ. The sentiment expressed was that, as public health officials, it’s imperative to remain vigilant about such crucial health matters.