The Department of Public Works in Baltimore is lowering the level of fluoride in its drinking water systems this week, tying the reduction to supply issues caused by the Iran war.
“This is an adjustment driven solely by supply availability,” said DPW Director Matthew Garbark in a statement. “We remain committed to providing safe, high-quality drinking water.”
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Baltimore city officials emphasized that the drinking water will still be safe to drink despite the lowered fluoride levels.
Israel is among the world’s leading producers of hydrofluorosilicic acid, a compound widely used in water fluoridation, with the United States ranking among its top importers, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency.
Last week, WSSC Water, the country’s eighth-largest water and wastewater utility plant, notified its customers that it was temporarily reducing the level of fluoride added to the drinking water in Maryland’s Montgomery and Prince George’s counties.
“The [Hydrofluorosilicic acid] market has experienced significant disruption in recent months due to reduced domestic production and reduced output from other producers,” said Chuck Brown, spokesperson for WSSC Water. He added that the company was experiencing “significant operational impacts” from a major supplier located in Israel.
A Pennsylvania borough also told its water customers it had to temporarily halt fluoridation last month due to supply issues.
Federal and state regulations do not require fluoride to be added during water treatment, but it is widely used to help prevent tooth decay and strengthen teeth.
Leading public health organizations such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the World Health Organization, the American Dental Association, and the American Academy of Pediatrics support fluoridation as a safe and effective public health measure.
At the same time, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly spoken against fluoride, believing that it can negatively affect child development.
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Last year, Utah became the first state to ban public water fluoridation. Several other states have also taken steps to ban the compound in their drinking water.
“It makes no sense to have it in our water supply,” Kennedy said at a news conference with Utah state lawmakers last year. “I’m very, very proud of this state for being the first state to ban it, and I hope many more will come.”
