BARTOW, Fla., (WFLA) – One other metropolis in Polk County has moved one step nearer to eradicating fluoride from its water.
On March 17, Bartow Metropolis Commissioners are anticipated to vote on whether or not or to not proceed including fluoride to the water.
It was a packed public assembly Tuesday evening as speaker after speaker took to the rostrum to have their stance on fluoride heard.
Fluoride has been added to consuming water for years to attempt to stop tooth decay.
State Surgeon Basic, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, who attended the assembly stated it’s time to cease placing fluoride within the water, and warned of the well being dangers.
“The underside line is you now have a number of research, the overwhelming majority of research that present, very clearly, an affiliation between greater fluoride ranges and neurotoxic harms, neuropsychiatric harms,” Ladapo stated.
The Surgeon Basic referred to some research that stated fluoride can result in issues like decrease IQ and behavioral points in kids.
Ladapo stated essentially the most delicate populations are kids and pregnant moms.
“I actually did not have a alternative in my being pregnant to determine on whether or not I used to be consuming fluoride and ingesting it or not. He would not have a alternative both, whether or not I drink it, and it goes via my breast milk to him,” stated a mom who spoke throughout public remark.
On the opposite facet, these working within the dental subject stated they see the advantage of fluoride every day, and it outweighs any potential hurt.
“I have been practising for 35 years in Polk County; I assist individuals who get pleasure from fluoride and individuals who don’t get pleasure from fluoride. Maybe my expertise might be of profit to you, I can inform you the place fluoride is offered, and fluoride shouldn’t be magic, it would not make all of the cavities go away, nevertheless it helps,” stated Dr. John Paul, who has a dental workplace in Lakeland.
He stated fluoride will help prevent a number of journeys to the dentist.
“The place fluoride is offered, I see cavities are available one in two per child, one in two per grandma. The place fluoride shouldn’t be obtainable, I see cavities coming in a single and two per tooth,” Paul stated.
Metropolis Commissioners thanked everybody for talking on the assembly and stated they wanted to go over every thing they heard earlier than voting.
Bartow is at the moment one in every of 5 cities in Polk County that provides fluoride to their consuming water.
