STATE HEALTH RECOMMENDATION LEADS CITY TO END PRACTICE.
Supplemental fluoridation of water began in the U.S. in 1946 as a public health initiative to reduce children’s tooth decay. Early studies showed positive dental results, so the practice expanded nationwide. Based on recommendations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Dental Association, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Health Department, the City of Plant City began adding fluoride to the water supply on March 1, 2013. The Florida Department of Health gave the city a $300,000 grant to set up a fluoridation system. The string attached was the city had to add fluoride to the water in perpetuity.
In November 2024, Joseph Ladapo, Surgeon General of Florida, recommended against fluoridating water based on subsequent research showing the risks of ingesting fluoride. Among other things, the negatives include interference with thyroid production, weakened bones, and lower IQs and cognitive impairment in children.
“The fact that we, as a municipality, are forcing a chemical known as fluoride to all of our residents for their use bothers me,” Commissioner Bill Dodson said.
There was a concern that since the grant required fluoridation of water in perpetuity, Plant City would be on the hook to pay back the original $300,000. However, City Manager Bill McDaniel contacted the Director of the Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough County, who confirmed Plant City has no further obligation to fluoridate its water supply. As a result, McDaniel brought to the March 25 Regular Meeting of the City Commission a recommendation to halt the addition of fluoride to city water.
There is naturally occurring fluoride in water. The water Plant City pumps from groundwater has .4 parts per billion. The fluoride the city added raised the levels to .7 parts per billion. “We were almost doubling it based on these recommendations,” McDaniel said. One of the issues about fluoridating water is a bioethical one. “To me, that was my strongest motivator—it is mass medication, and people don’t have a right to choose when it’s done this way. Attitudes, knowledge, and perceptions have changed since the times we enacted this in the city back in 2013. We were following the recommendations of the health officials. Now when the health officials have changed their view and brought forward a recommendation to stop doing this, we have followed up, done our due diligence, and arrived at the decision to end this….Everybody has gotten it their heads that spring water is just pure, clean, water the way Mother Nature made it. I think that is what people want, and removing this is a step in that direction—keeping our water as pure as possible.”
“With this new information that has come forth, and this new finding that problems can occur, I feel it imperative to make a motion to remove fluoride,” Commissioner Mike Sparkman said.
The City Commission passed a motion 5-0 to end fluoridating Plant City water. There are alternatives to adding fluoride to water—most toothpastes contain fluoride. Additionally, if someone wants additional fluoride, dentists can administer fluoride treatments.
“Number one, it is a health concern for our citizens,” Commissioner Mary Thomas Mathis commented. “….It is an ethical and legal consideration, but it needs to be the citizens’ choice. We need to eliminate the fluoride.”
Ending the practice of fluoridation will also save the city $20,000 per year.
