Communities are Responding to Federal Court Fluoride Ruling

by Stuart Cooper, Executive Director | Oct 3, 2024

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Decision-makers and water operators around the country are already taking action in response to last week’s federal court ruling deeming water fluoridation an “unreasonable risk” to the health of children. The ruling provides a very thorough opinion by the federal court, and is based upon extensive scientific research–including a systematic review by the National Toxicology Program–and many hours of expert testimony.

Policymakers at the local and state level do not need to wait to take action. The federal government doesn’t mandate fluoridation, and thus local and state decision makers can and should end fluoridation immediately. The ruling and the NTP report provide a firm foundation to do so.

It’s important that water operators, local officials, and media outlets in every single fluoridated community be notified of the ruling as soon as possible. Every day, children in these communities are needlessly being harmed, many without the knowledge of their parents.

Please take some time today to look up the contact information for your 1) water department and/or your utilities director, 2) your local city councilors, 3) your state legislator and state senator, and 4) the news departments for major media outlets in your community. Send each an email asking for them to urgently read the following:

The Fluoride Action Network’s press release:

https://fluoridealert.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/PDF2-TSCA-Victory-press-release-1.pdf

The full ruling:

https://fluoridealert.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/Court-Ruling.pdf

Don’t wait for someone else to do it or underestimate the impact you could have. Citizens just like you have helped end fluoridation in hundreds of communities over the years, in many cases, simply through educating local officials.

Fluoridation Suspended in Several Communities

The court ruling is already having an impact on fluoridation policy. Over the past week, several water systems have suspended the addition of fluoridation chemicals to the public drinking water directly in response to fluoridation being classified as an “unreasonable risk.”

The first to act was the Yorktown Water District in New York, which provides water to over 50,000 people in the towns of Yorktown and Somers. On Thursday, September 26th, Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman ordered the suspension of fluoridation as a precautionary measure, stating in a press release posted on the town’s website:

“In light of this federal ruling and the long-standing concerns expressed by many Yorktown residents, I have decided to suspend water fluoridation as a precautionary measure. Our priority is the safety and well-being of our community, and we believe it is prudent to pause fluoridation to further assess its potential impacts.”

Lachterman told the local news that the ruling deserved “immediate action.” He was also quoted in The Defender, saying, “We will follow the science and see what happens. There are alternate ways of introducing fluoride to those that need it, and there may end up being a better way to control the dosage than drinking water.”

Yorktown Deputy Supervisor Sergio Esposito added that, “Children are our most precious commodity and need to be protected.”

The decision was also applauded by the superintendent for the town of Somers, who said:

“Removing fluoride from Somers’ drinking water would give residents the freedom to choose their own sources of fluoride, ensuring personal control over their health decisions. Additionally, concerns about potential long-term health risks from fluoride exposure support reevaluating its use in public water systems. Somers applauds Yorktown for making this decision.”

The supervisors for both towns said they had received calls from local residents in favor of the suspension. Lachterman said, “Most of the comments have been positive. It’s our responsibility as a town to look after the safety of our children.” Scorrano echoed those sentiments, saying:

“We have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from Somers residents regarding the removal of fluoride from our water supply. In fact, we have also received calls from individuals in other states expressing their support for this decision. [The town] will make a decision that prioritizes the health and well-being of all our residents.”

Yorktown was shortly followed by the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District in Utah, which provides water to over 700,000 residents in the Ogden area. On September 26th, the district put out a statement announcing that they would pause fluoridation due to the court ruling:

“Out of an abundance of caution and to prioritize the public’s health above all else, the addition of fluoride to the drinking water supplied by the district in Davis County, Utah, will be paused. This pause will allow for the National Toxicology Program (NTP), the Department of Health and Human Services, EPA, and other appropriate federal agencies, to conduct a comprehensive review of the safety and efficacy of water fluoridation in light of the new information.”

The general manager of the water district, Scott Paxman, said that while he can pause fluoridation, he cannot legally stop it because it was approved by a voter initiative. He told the local media that when he informed the Utah Division of Drinking Water, they alerted the Attorney General’s office. Paxman said that he was informed that protecting local children from harm by halting fluoridation could result in criminal charges.

This week, the city of Abilene, Texas, suspended fluoridation for 130,000 residents. A statement posted on the city’s website says that the mayor and city manager discussed the issue over the weekend and agreed that a suspension would “do no harm and provide an opportunity for the city council to provide further direction in light of recent court rulings regarding fluoride.”

The city’s statement also said,

“With potential changes to EPA regulations, such as potential adjustments to fluoride levels or the possible introduction of warning labels, the city is pausing fluoridation to ensure compliance with any new health and safety guidelines that may emerge. This temporary suspension is being implemented out of an abundance of caution to safeguard public health…This precautionary step follows a recent California federal court ruling that may result in changes to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) recommendations regarding fluoride levels in drinking water.”

More Communities are Likely to Protect Citizens

While they continue to fluoridate for the time being, a number of communities have initiated discussions and hearings following the ruling.

A County Commissioner in Hillsborough, Florida–where Tampa is located and home to over 1.5 million residents–posted the following statement in response to learning about the court ruling:

“I am bringing a motion to remove the ADDITION of Fluoride that Hillsborough County Government spends hundreds of thousands a year on from our children’s water supply. No excuses.”

Discussions and hearings are also scheduled this week in communities across the country, in Wisconsin, Indiana, North Carolina, Washington, Oregon, Michigan, and more. State legislators are also taking an interest in the ruling, and FAN is already working with bi-partisan sponsors in multiple states to prepare legislation for the upcoming legislative sessions.

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