WATER FLUORIDATION STATUS:

• PERCENT OF PEOPLE SERVED BY PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS THAT ARE FLUORIDATED:
  2018:  85.4% – ranked #21 among the states (100% fluoridated is ranked #1)
  2016:  85.6%
  2014:  70.7%
  2012:  66.9%
  2006:  64.4%
  2000:  59.9%
  1992:  58.7%
• To see if your town is fluoridated, click here.
• To learn when your town was fluoridated, and which fluoridation chemical it uses, click here.

ARKANSAS FLUORIDE DATA FOR EACH WATER SYSTEM

• 2020: Levels of Fluoride in the State’s Drinking Water and Fluoridation Status: 16 Public Water Systems with fluoride levels over 0.71 ppm.

It is illegal for any Public Water System to deliver drinking water with fluoride concentrations higher than 2.0 ppm, which is still exceedingly high. Water departments deal with this issue by using filter systems to reduce the high levels of fluoride, in some cases blending with water supplies that have lower levels, or the abandonment of the water supply.

To find out the fluoride levels in your drinking water, contact your local water department. You can also go online to CDC’s My Water’s Fluoride.

LATEST NEWS:

• To see the latest news on fluoride developments in Arkansas, click here.
• To see an updated list of Arkansas professionals calling for an end to fluoridation, click here.

Arkansas’ MANDATORY FLUORIDATION LAW:

• On March 4, 2011, Gov. Mike Beebe signed Act 197 into law. This law mandates fluoridation for water systems supplying 5,000 people or more, with two exceptions: (1) communities who receive their water from another state do not have to comply; (2) funds to pay capital start – up costs for fluoridation equipment cannot come from taxes.
  NOTE: “… an offer by Delta Dental of Arkansas to donate $500,000 toward startup costs for 32 water systems affected by the bill and a survey showing public support for the measure helped make the effort successful…” ADA’s press statement, March 17, 2011.

DATA ON ORAL HEALTH:

• 2002. Too Few Visits to the Dentist? The Impact on Children’s Health. A Special Report from Arkansas Advocates for Children & Families. February. No mention of dental fluorosis.
• 2007. Oral Health in Arkansas. By Mouden LD, Phillips MM, Sledge R, Evans V. Office of Oral Health. August. No mention of dental fluorosis.
• 2012. Arkansas Oral Health Plan 2012-2015. Arkansas Department of Health, Office of Oral Health.
  “Recommendation 2.8.  Provide funding for public health clinic start up and maintenance grants and other safety net programs including community health centers and not-for-profit volunteer programs. Strategy: 1. On an ongoing basis, pursue funding for community health center dental expansion and volunteer community programs through the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement and other funding mechanisms.” No mention of dental fluorosis.
• 2013. Office of Oral Health Surveillance Plan. Prepared by Abby Holt and Brian Whitaker. Arkansas Department of Health.
  “Community water fluoridation (CWF) is promoted through a CDC cooperative agreement. Activities include presentations on the benefits and costs of CWF internally within the ADH and externally to various governing bodies, community leaders and lay citizens through the distribution of informational packets and campaigns to include print and broadcast media. Internal partners include the ADH Section of Engineering and the Office of Communications and Marketing among others.” No mention of dental fluorosis.

FAN’S STATE COORDINATOR IN Arkansas:

If you live in AR and want to get the fluoride out of your water contact Crystal Harvey, FAN’s Arkansas state coordinator.

Arkansas COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE REJECTED FLUORIDATION:

FLUORIDE POLLUTION SOURCES IN ARKANSAS:

In 2008, Arkansas ranked #15 out of 48 states for Hydrogen fluoride releases (2,046,542  pounds) and second for Fluorine releases (9,166  pounds). The following data comes from EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI). “Total releases” includes both water and air pollution. It’s important to note, however, that not all industries or sources that release fluoride into the environment are included in the TRI.

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