Washington: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will reconvene an independent panel of health experts to develop a new recommendation on the addition of fluoride to public drinking water, a department spokesperson confirmed Monday.
Fluoride, a mineral commonly added to drinking water to enhance dental health and prevent tooth decay, has long sparked political and public health debate across several U.S. states. The renewed evaluation follows rising national attention on the issue.
The announcement came shortly after an Associated Press report quoted Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. stating during an event in Salt Lake City, Utah, that he intends to direct the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to stop recommending fluoride in community water systems.
In parallel, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will also conduct a review of emerging scientific data regarding the potential health impacts of fluoride. “This is an initial step toward assessing the safety standards for fluoride in drinking water,” said EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin at the same Salt Lake City event, according to an EPA statement.
Utah recently became the first U.S. state to prohibit fluoride in public water supplies after Governor Spencer Cox signed legislation enacting the ban last month.
The American Dental Association (ADA) has voiced opposition to the Utah law and continues to support community water fluoridation, citing its effectiveness in preventing dental caries.
According to the U.S. Public Health Service, the recommended fluoride level in drinking water should not exceed 0.7 milligrams per liter (mg/L). However, levels above 1.5 mg/L—more than double the recommendation—have been linked to potential health risks such as bone fractures, thyroid dysfunction, and neurological damage.
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The EPA currently enforces a maximum fluoride level of 4.0 mg/L. In September 2024, a federal judge in California ordered the agency to tighten its fluoride regulations, stating that the compound presents “an unreasonable potential risk” to children at exposure levels commonly found in the United States.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who is known for his opposition to fluoridation, has claimed—without conclusive scientific evidence—that the practice is associated with several health concerns, including cancer.
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As of 2022, approximately 63% of Americans were receiving fluoridated water through their community water systems, according to the CDC.
The renewed scrutiny by HHS and the EPA may lead to significant changes in federal fluoride policy, with wide-reaching implications for public health, regulatory standards, and community water management across the country.
