Topline
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday he will tell the Centers for Disease and Prevention to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water, the Associated Press reported—following through on a promise he made while campaigning with President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
Kennedy, speaking to AP after a news conference in Salt Lake City, also told the news outlet he is assembling a task force for the issue.
While campaigning with Trump, Kennedy said in a post on X the White House would advise “all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water” because it is “associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease”—though he did not provide evidence for the connection.
Last month, Utah became the first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water amid a recent surge of concern over the mineral additive, although public health officials have maintained it is safe.
Is Fluoride Dangerous?
A systemic review from the National Toxicology Program in HHS last year found fluoride concentrations that exceed the World Health Organization’s recommendations for drinking water quality “are consistently associated with lower IQ in children,” but the authors said more studies are needed to fully understand the impact. The same study said results did not “provide clarity on the association between fluoride exposure and cognitive or neurodevelopmental human health effects.”
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What Is Fluoride’s Benefit?
The American Dental Association says fluoride is added to water to help prevent tooth decay. Fluoride is the most efficient way to prevent cavities and prevents against them at all ages, the ADA says, adding “the best scientific evidence has consistently shown that fluoridation is safe and effective.” The CDC currently recommends fluoride be used to prevent cavities, though it does not require fluoride be added to water and says it is “important to know the fluoride concentration of your main source of drinking water.”
Key Background
Americans began receiving fluoridated tap water at a large scale in the early 1950s, according to the CDC, which reported nearly three-quarters of Americans (74.6%) had fluoridated water in their public water systems by 2012. Kennedy has long opposed the use of fluoride, claiming it lowered IQ in children and caused bone conditions. Health experts have said the amount of fluoride needed to cause the conditions is higher than the level usually present in drinking water.
Further Reading
Live Trump administration updates: RFK Jr. says he plans to tell CDC to stop recommending fluoride in drinking water (Associated Press)
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