Water utility announces it's ditching fluoride-then reveals it did so years ago
Ars Technica • • nation
Key Points:
- Central Alabama Water (CAW) revealed it had stopped adding fluoride to Birmingham’s water years ago without public notification, despite announcing in March 2024 that fluoridation had recently been discontinued due to equipment issues and health concerns.
- Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin criticized CAW for failing to notify the public as required by law and filed a lawsuit seeking an emergency order to resume fluoridation, citing risks to residents’ dental health, especially among low-income children.
- The American Dental Association and American Academy of Pediatrics continue to recommend water fluoridation as a key public health measure to prevent tooth decay, warning that removing fluoride increases cavity risk, particularly for children.
- Anti-fluoride misinformation, amplified by figures like Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., contradicts scientific consensus and could lead to significant increases in dental decay if fluoridation is discontinued nationwide.
