MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said on Saturday that Trump would push to remove fluoride from the nation’s drinking water.
This comes after a ruling from a federal judge in September when they ordered the EPA to further regulate fluoride, due to studies linking high levels of fluoride with lower IQ levels in children.
Some municipalities have removed fluoride from their drinking water in light of this ruling, but not Marquette.
Mark O’Neill, the Director of Municipal Utilities for the city of Marquette, said the city has not received any change in guidance so far on the addition of fluoride to drinking water.
“We have heard nothing as far as the recommendation from our state and federal partners,” O’Neill said. “The CDC still recommends that you add it at 0.7 mg per liter, and that is the recommendation the city has been following.”
Valerie Olson has been the director of the Marquette Wellness Center for 27 years. The center helps educate people who come there on steps they can take to be proactive with their health.
Olson says she is concerned about fluoride in our drinking water, and believes that research about the health risks of fluoride has been intentionally suppressed by the dental industry.
She was happy to see the September ruling.
“The conclusion was, ‘wow,’ unreasonable risk per Judge Chen to our children of neurological harm,” said Olson. “That is bold, that’s important, and that needs to be recognized and acted upon.”
O’Neill said there were issues with the studies used in the ruling and cited fluoride’s proven link to reduced risk of cavities.
Additionally, he said fluoride can be found in drinking water even if it’s not added.
“Fluoride is a natural product that is in the ground, in the soil,” O’Neill said. “Generally speaking, surface waters like Lake Superior don’t have fluoride in it, but well systems do.”
O’Neill said the city will continue to follow CDC guidance on the addition of fluoride until that guidance changes.
Original article online at: https://www.uppermichiganssource.com/2024/11/13/city-marquette-concerned-resident-offer-perspectives-proposed-removal-fluoride-drinking-water/