RFK Jr's effort to end fluoride in public water

Axios - Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s push to remove fluoride from public water supplies is playing out on dual tracks, as the EPA advances a fast-track review of health risks and at least 16 states weigh new restrictions.

The efforts show how key parts of Kennedy's "Make America Healthy Again" agenda are being steered outside of the department he oversees.New fluoride limits could upend an 80-year-old standard that's widely credited with reducing tooth decay by 25% and narrowing disparities for people without regular dental care.

The EPA last week released a preliminary plan for a study of potential toxic effects of fluoride exposure, which could be the basis of changes to drinking water standards.The federal government can't require communities to add or remove the mineral, but can set maximum allowable amounts.

....The agency's review of fluoride "will not prejudge any outcomes," EPA biologist Todd Zurlinden said during a webinar about the proposed work plan last week.But Kennedy said in a statement that "a growing body of evidence indicates that ingesting fluoride can cause neurological harm, and other adverse effects." EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said he's "working in lockstep with Secretary Kennedy."

U.S. cities have been adding extra fluoride — a naturally occurring mineral — to their drinking water since 1945 to improve dental health and prevent cavities.Excessive fluoride can cause cosmetic tooth damage, and some studies link very high exposure to lower IQ scores in children.  Keep reading