Bartow’s City Commission will hold a public workshop regarding the pros and cons of adding fluoride to its water supply on Feb. 18 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bartow Civic Center.
Florida Surgeon General Joseph Lapado and American Fluoridation Society President Johnny Johnson will be among the panelist.
Following presentations on both sides of the issue, there will be an opportunity for questions and public comments.
Based on the information and feedback gathered during the meeting, the commission will vote on whether to continue to add fluoride to city water at a future regularly scheduled meeting.
Bartow is among several cities in Polk County to recently reevaluate the addition of fluoride to its public water supply. Lakeland will have a similar public hearing on Feb. 17. Winter Haven’s City Commission voted to stop the practice in November. That sudden decision brought a wave of public backlash, and prompted Ladapo to visit the city barely a week later to announce new state guidance against fluoridating water.
Five cities in Polk County currently add fluoride to drinking water: Lakeland, Bartow, Auburndale, Haines City and Lake Alfred. Plant City, just over the Hillsborough County line, also adds fluoride to its water. Polk County does not.
In his November visit to Winter Haven, Ladapo said recent medical studies show fluoride can lower young children’s IQs, causing attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and other neurobehavioral issues.
But dental professionals argue that those studies analyzed other countries, where fluoride levels are much higher than what’s allowed in the United States. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services currently suggests that communities add fluoride to bring their drinking water to 0.7 mg/L fluoride. While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requires all water utilities show their fluoride levels stay below 4 mg/L.
The Centers for Disease Control calls the practice of adding fluoride to tap water systems one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the last century. Major medical groups, such as the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have also endorsed water fluoridation at recommended levels as a way to boost oral health.
In a 2022 city water report, Bartow reported fluoride levels ranging from 0.50 to 0.67 mg/L.
The Bartow Civic Center is located at 2250 Floral Ave.
Original article online at: https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2025/01/27/bartow-will-hold-workshop-on-pros-and-cons-of-fluoridating-water/77903934007/