Pennsylvania Rep. aims to remove fluoride from drinking water with new bill
In the Commonwealth, there is a reported 2.0 mg/L of fluoride in drinking water. While the University of Pittsburgh argues that fluoridation is an effective way to fight against tooth decay, Sen. Dawn Keefer (R-Cumberland, York) argues that recent studies and 'public sentiment' have raised questions about its safety and necessity. It is important to note that while there is fluoride in some public drinking water across Pennsylvania, not all water systems are fluoridated.
Keefer noted in her newest bill, known as the Fluoride Choice Act, that a 2024 JAMA Pediatrics report 'linked higher fluoride exposure to lower IQ scores in children.' The study referenced in the legislation conducted 74 studies in the following countries:
China
Canada
Denmark
India
Iran
Mexico
New Zealand
Pakistan
Spain
Taiwan
JAMA Pediatrics also noted in the study that there was limited data and 'uncertainty in the dose-response association between fluoride exposure and children's IQ when exposure was estimated by drinking water alone at concentrations less than 1.5 mg/L.' The full study can be found here.
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The Fluoride Choice Act aims to prohibit any individual, entity or political subdivision from adding fluoride to public water systems or water intended for public consumption. It would also require the safe disposal of fluoride chemicals.
Keefer added that her bill is modeled after a Utah bill that aimed to promote individual choice by supporting access to fluoride through supplements or topical applications. She ended her bill by asking her peers to 'protect our constituents' rights, respond to emerging science, and align with a growing national movement.'
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