WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a measure Thursday prohibiting native governments from including fluoride to their water programs, making it the second state within the nation after Utah to implement a statewide ban on the mineral.
DeSantis signed the invoice at a public occasion in Dade Metropolis, Florida, over the considerations of dentists and public well being advocates.
“Sure, use fluoride in your enamel, that’s high-quality, however forcing it within the water provide is principally compelled remedy on folks,” DeSantis mentioned Thursday. “They don’t have a selection, you’re taking that away from them.”
State lawmakers authorised the invoice final month, requiring the mineral and another components be faraway from water sources throughout the state. Utah was the primary state to ban fluoride in late March, and its prohibition went into impact final week, whereas Florida’s provision is efficient July 1.
Some native governments in Florida have already voted to take away fluoride from their water, forward of the statewide ban. Earlier this month, Miami-Dade County commissioners voted to override a veto by Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and transfer ahead with plans to take away fluoride from the county’s consuming water.
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“Water fluoridation is a protected, efficient, and environment friendly technique to preserve dental well being in our county – and halting it might have long-lasting well being penalties, particularly for our most weak households,” Levine Cava mentioned in a press release defending her veto.
Some Republican-led states have sought to impose bans following a push by U.S. Well being Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to cease fluoridating water. Earlier this month, DeSantis pledged to signal the invoice and was flanked by the state’s surgeon common, Joseph Ladapo, who has attracted nationwide scrutiny over his opposition to insurance policies embraced by public well being consultants, together with COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Fluoride is a mineral that has been added to consuming water for generations to strengthen enamel and scale back cavities by changing minerals misplaced throughout regular put on and tear, in line with the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention. The addition of low ranges of fluoride to consuming water has lengthy been thought of one of many best public well being achievements of the final century.
Extra fluoride consumption has been related to streaking or spots on enamel. And research even have traced a hyperlink between extra fluoride and mind growth.