**Robert Kennedy Jr. Claims Fluoride in Drinking Water is "Harmful": Controversy from a Scientific P

In his latest post on the X platform, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed that if Trump is elected president, fluoride in the drinking water in the United States will be removed. He pointed out that fluoride is associated with health problems such as arthritis, decreased IQ, and bone cancer. The United States has been adding fluoride to drinking water for decades to prevent tooth decay. Experts believe that at safe exposure levels, the harm of fluoride to health has not been confirmed. However, some studies have shown that high - concentration fluoride is toxic, and with the popularity of fluoride - containing toothpaste, reducing the concentration of fluoride in water may have little impact on dental health. This statement comes from a post shared by Kennedy on X a few days before the 2024 presidential election (on Saturday). He wrote: "On January 20, the Trump White House will recommend that all U.S. water supply systems remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, fractures, bone cancer, decreased IQ, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid diseases. President @realDonaldTrump and First Lady @MELANIATRUMP hope to make America healthy again." In subsequent posts, he also referred to fluoride as a "dangerous neurotoxin". Kennedy's remarks have sparked concerns about the safety of fluoride in drinking water and what would happen if fluoride were removed from the U.S. water supply. Here are the details. ### What is Fluoride? Why is it in Drinking Water? Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps prevent tooth decay and strengthen bones. It is commonly found in water sources and dental products such as toothpaste and mouthwash. Almost all water contains natural fluoride, but the content is usually not enough to maintain dental health. Therefore, in the 1940s, local governments began to add fluoride to water systems. By 2020, more than 72% of the total U.S. population (about 290 million people) will obtain fluoridated water through community water supply systems. The law does not mandate water fluoridation, and whether to add fluoride to the water supply is determined by state and local governments. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has set the optimal fluoride concentration in drinking water at 0.7 milligrams per liter. If the natural level is too high, the community may remove fluoride. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States, drinking fluoridated water can reduce tooth decay in children and adults by about 25%, reducing oral pain, fillings or extractions, and the number of days of absence from work or school. However, a Cochrane review in October 2024 found that the benefits of community water fluoridation for tooth decay have been declining since fluoride - containing toothpaste became more popular in the 1970s. ### Does Fluoride Endanger Public Health? This is a complex issue. Studies have shown that the health risks depend on the level of exposure. Dr. Athanasios Zavras, a professor at Tufts University School of Medicine and director of the Department of Public Health and Community Services, said: "The science of fluoride is very interesting because a small amount of fluoride is beneficial, while a high dose is toxic." Currently, the risks of fluoride to health at the optimal level have not been confirmed. Zavras said: "There is no evidence to support the claim that 0.7 mg/L of fluoride causes any of the above - mentioned conditions." However, Dr. Ashley Malin of the University of Florida's College of Public Health and Health Professions pointed out that high fluoride content can have adverse health consequences. #### Fluoride and Neurodevelopment Malin mainly studies the impact of fluoride on neurodevelopment, and there is evidence of a connection between them. In August, a report by the National Toxicology Program in the United States found that exposure to high - concentration fluoride (such as fluoride content in drinking water exceeding 1.5 mg/L) is associated with lower IQ in children. Most of the studies in the report were conducted in countries outside the United States with high levels of fluoride exposure. However, nearly 2 million Americans drink tap water with a natural fluoride content of at least 1.5 mg/L (the upper limit set by the World Health Organization), and 1 million Americans drink tap water with a natural fluoride content of 2 mg/L or more. This report has led to lawsuits. A federal court in California ruled in favor of the plaintiffs, who claimed that the fluoride content in U.S. drinking water poses a threat to human health. Although the court's ruling did not determine that the current fluoride content in water is harmful to public health, due to "a large amount of scientifically reliable evidence indicating that fluoride poses a threat to human health", the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must now strengthen the regulation of fluoride in drinking water. However, opponents such as the American Academy of Pediatrics have questioned the validity of the relevant studies, especially carefully examining the NTP report on the connection between fluoridated water and IQ. Charlotte W. Lewis, a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics, said in a statement that the current decision will not change her confidence in the safety of fluoridated water in the United States. Water fluoridation is a public health policy based on solid evidence. After new research is published, health experts will carefully review it to ensure that it meets high standards of public safety. #### Fluoride and Oral Health Young children's exposure to high - concentration fluoride may cause dental fluorosis, that is, excessive exposure to fluoride during tooth growth can cause tooth discoloration, including white spots, mottling or lines. In the United States, the symptoms of dental fluorosis are mostly mild and only affect the appearance of the teeth, that is, dental fluorosis does not affect tooth function and does not cause pain. Around the age of 8, the enamel of permanent teeth is completely formed, and children are no longer at risk of dental fluorosis. #### Fluoride and Other Health Problems In his X post, Kennedy associated fluoride in drinking water with poor bone and joint health (fractures, bone cancer, arthritis) and thyroid diseases. High - concentration fluoride can weaken bones and, in severe cases, lead to skeletal fluorosis. However, the association between bone cancer and fluoride exposure has not been confirmed. Although a report expressed concerns about the risk of bone cancer based on preliminary and animal studies, Malin said that there has been no rigorous research on low - fluoride exposure in the United States. Some studies have found a link between fluoride exposure and an increased risk of fractures. A recent Swedish study showed that fluoride exposure similar to that in the United States is associated with an increased risk of severe osteoporosis and hip fractures in postmenopausal Swedish women. Regarding arthritis, studies on the association between fluoride and an increased risk of arthritis have not reached a conclusive conclusion. A study of residents in Tongyu County, China, found that excessive exposure to fluoridated water (fluoride content exceeding 0.7 mg/L) may increase the risk of osteoarthritis. The connection between thyroid diseases and fluoride exposure is not close. A Canadian study found that pregnant women with low fluoride content in drinking water have an increased risk of hypothyroidism, but more rigorous research is needed in the United States. ### Where Does the Fluoride Added to Drinking Water Come From? The National Sanitation Foundation in the United States has approved three chemicals for water fluoridation: fluorosilicic acid, sodium fluorosilicate, and sodium fluoride. Malin said that these may be by - products of phosphate fertilizer production, which may explain Kennedy's description of fluoride as "industrial waste". Malin also pointed out that two of these fluoride additives contain heavy metals. A 2014 study found that fluorosilicic acid contains arsenic, lead, and aluminum, and sodium fluoride contains aluminum and barium, and noted that all test samples had "astonishing aluminum content". Although the study used only a small number of samples, Malin also warned that when these two chemicals are combined with disinfectants such as chlorine in pipes, they can have harmful effects. "When disinfectants are mixed, lead in lead - containing pipes can seep into community drinking water, increasing lead exposure," Malin said. "People often think that this is medical - grade fluoride or similar to natural fluoride, but in my opinion, these chemicals are completely different." ### What Would Happen if Fluoride were Removed from the U.S. Water Supply? The most direct impact is a significant increase in tooth decay, especially among children. Zavras said that water fluoridation is a "public health miracle" that helps many people in all socioeconomic groups avoid the devastating effects of dental diseases. Groups that consume high - carbohydrate diets will bear a heavier burden. However, Malin said that there is evidence that water fluoridation is no longer essential for preventing tooth decay because fluoride - containing toothpaste is widely available. "It seems that over the years, the proven benefits have declined," Malin added. "There is more evidence to support topical application." Fluoride recommendations have changed previously. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services initially set the optimal range of water fluoride at 0.7 - 1.2 mg/L. In 2015, due to the increasing fluoride content in foods processed with fluoridated water, the agency updated its recommendation to the current optimal concentration of 0.7 mg/L. Malin also pointed out that community drinking water is not the only source of fluoride exposure. Regardless of Kennedy's remarks, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency must address the health risks of water fluoridation in accordance with the federal court's ruling. Malin believes that further regulation to reduce risks makes sense. Whether this means reducing the concentration or completely removing it from the water supply remains to be determined.