Republicans in Arkansas filed legislations to remove fluoride from drinking water in the state.
Two pieces of legislations filed Wednesday– the first day to file for the forthcoming legislative session set to begin Jan. 2025–seek to repeal a requirement for fluoride in the state’s drinking water, according to a local NBC affiliate.
Senate Bill 2 would repeal a mandate for the fluoridation of drinking water. The bill is sponsored by Sens. Clint Penzo, and Bryan King with co-sponsors Reps. Matt Duffield and Aaron Pilkington. All are Republicans.
The second bill sponsored by the same four lawmakers would allow voters to decide whether to keep fluoride in drinking water. The decision to hold a vote can be by voter petition or by community officials, including a local water board.
The move comes after Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services, said earlier this month that he would advise Trump “to remove fluoride” from all public water systems in the U.S.
Kennedy falsely claim that fluoride is linked to a slew of medical conditions such as arthritis, cancer and thyroid disease.
Fluoride is a mineral that repairs and prevents damage to teeth that bacteria cause in the mouth, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Arkansas’ Department of Health also promoted the benefits of fluoride on its website, saying it is “added to the water by water systems to improve the dental health of its customers.”
“Although many questions have been raised about fluoride and its relationship to cancer, no studies have proven that its effects are harmful at levels normally used in drinking water,” the department adds. “Almost every study demonstrates that fluoride greatly reduces the incidence of cavities. The addition of fluoride to a water customer’s drinking water is an added benefit.”
