Utah moves to ban fluoride in drinking water. It would be the first for any US state.
Utah could soon become the first state to ban the mineral fluoride in public drinking water, according to legislation in the state.
House Bill, 81 introduced by Rep. Stephanie Gricius and Sen. Kirk A. Cullimore, both Republicans, was approved by the Utah State Senate on Friday.
The bill addresses provisions related to water fluoridation and prescription fluoride supplements. In addition to prohibiting adding fluoride to public water systems, the bill also:
Allows pharmacists to prescribe fluoride;
Directs the Division of Professional Licensing to establish guidelines for prescribing the mineral.
If signed by Gov. Spencer J. Cox, the bill would become law in May.
USA TODAY has reached out to Cox's office.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention named public water fluoridation one of the top 10 public health achievements of the 20th Century. The practice of adding small amounts of fluoride to public drinking water to strengthen teeth is endorsed by the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. The organizations point to research that found fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25% in children and adults.
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The bill's approval comes after a federal report in August linked high levels of fluoride in other countries to lower IQs in children, adding new evidence in the debate over adding fluoride to public drinking water systems.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' National Toxicity Program report evaluated a collection of studies on populations in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico.
The review examined total fluoride exposure from all sources, so it did not solely measure health effects of drinking fluoridated water. But experts previously told USA TODAY they expected it would likely generate debate among anti-fluoride groups pushing for ballot measures to ban fluoride in water in local communities.
Drinking water with more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter was "consistently associated with lower IQ in children," the report said. It did not say how much IQ might be lowered in children who drink water with fluoride levels that exceed that amount. The report also did not say whether adults could be affected by high levels of fluoride.
The U.S. Public Health Service recommends public water systems contain a fluoride level of .7 milligrams per liter of water. The World Health Organization's recommended limit for fluoride in drinking water in 1.5 milligrams per liter.
Federal public health agencies recommend public water systems be calibrated to less than half the fluoride levels which this research links to lower IQ in children.
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Utah may become first state to ban fluoride in public drinking water
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