The Crystal River City Council on Monday will discuss the discontinuation of fluoridation in its public water system.
The meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. in the Damron Conference Room at the Citrus County Welcome Center, 915 N. Suncoast Blvd., Crystal River.
The council will provide consensus to staff on the direction they would like to take.
The issue surfaced at the council’s April 14 meeting when local resident Marcia Brooks asked the city to discontinue fluoridation. Brooks said fluoridation poses a risk to pregnant women and to infants.
Two studies, one in Canada and the other in Mexico, found children who drank fluoridated water had a decline in infant IQ, and the other found increased symptoms of ADHD in children ages 6 to 12.
Crystal River City Council Member Cindi Frink, who said she worked as a dental hygienist, was against fluoride being added to the water.
Crystal River Mayor Joe Meek said he was aware of Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s recommendation against fluoridation.
Crystal River City Attorney Rob Batsel Jr. said no formal action would be necessary for the city to turn off the fluoridation. He said there is no city code governing fluoridation and technically the city manager or staff could end fluoridation.
He did recommend a public discussion, as he has been involved with other communities and there are strong opinions on both sides.
Last year, several Florida counties and municipalities ended fluoridation. SB 700, dubbed the “farm bill” is moving through the state Senate and would ban the addition of fluoride to public water systems.
According to Florida Today, as of December 2024, approximately 70 percent of Florida’s community water systems continue to fluoridate their water.
Frink said Crystal River’s residents need to weigh in on the topic.
“I just want to make sure the public is aware we are doing this,” Frink said. “People need to voice their opinion on it. I think it is important we do bring this up for a public hearing. They need to have their voices heard.”
Original article online at: https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/local/crystal-river-to-debate-fluoride-in-public-water/article_20e6969a-c30d-52e9-b528-ca782b0c64a0.html