Port St. Lucie, Fla., has temporarily stopped adding fluoride to its water supply after Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, spoke against the practice last month, WPTV reported Dec. 19.
Five notes:
1. A county ordinance has mandated water fluoridation since 1989.
2. Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, MD, PhD, recommended against community water fluoridation in November due to the potential neuropsychiatric risk associated with fluoride exposure. He cited several recent studies that found negative health impacts linked to high fluoride exposure, particularly on vulnerable populations such as children and pregnant people.
3. A St. Lucie County attorney reportedly indicated that he did not recommend enforcing the ordinance because of Dr. Ladapo's concerns about water fluoridation.
4. City officials said they will continue to review the situation, including any new data or recommendations, and will also work with the City Council and St. Lucie County officials to consider next steps.
5. National debate about the benefits and potential risks associated with fluoride has driven multiple Florida cities to weigh their continuation of water fluoridation. Officials in Stuart, Fla., voted to pause its water fluoridation, while the city of Tavares voted to remove fluoride from its water supply.