Utah has become the first state in the U.S. to ban fluoride in public water systems. Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, signed a bill into law on Thursday that prohibits individuals or government entities from adding the mineral to the state’s water systems.
The bill, introduced in January, was passed by the state Senate on February 21 and will take effect on May 7. Cox’s signature marked the final step in enacting the ban.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been a vocal critic of water fluoridation, linking it to health issues such as bone cancer and thyroid disease. Before the November presidential election, Kennedy stated that if Donald Trump were elected, he would recommend removing fluoride from all water systems.
Dr. Marty Makary, recently confirmed by the Senate to lead the Food and Drug Administration, also raised concerns about the potential harm of adding fluoride to drinking water. Studies, including one published in JAMA Pediatrics, have suggested a link between higher fluoride exposure and lower IQ scores in children.
Efforts to eliminate fluoride from drinking water have been gaining traction across the country. According to the Fluoride Action Network, more than 150 towns or counties have voted to remove it since 2010.
Legislation addressing fluoridation is being considered in several states. Lawmakers in Kentucky, Montana, and Tennessee have introduced bills to either make fluoridation optional or ban it altogether. In Florida, a proposed bill aims to prohibit “additives” like fluoride from being added to drinking water.
