KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) – Fluoride in drinking water has been a hot topic for years.
Recently, there’s been pushes to stop the introduction of the mineral in public water systems.
Now, Knox County Commissioner Andy Fox has drafted an ordinance the county board will eventually vote on that would stop fluoride introduction in the ninth district, the district he represents.
Fluoride in our water isn’t new. It naturally occurs in water and food.
Fox said he’s worried about the potential impacts from long-term exposure.
“In this day and age, people can achieve the same benefit by simply brushing their teeth with a fluoride toothpaste,” Fox said. “And maybe 80 years ago, people didn’t do that, but nowadays people know they need to brush their teeth with fluoride toothpaste.”
Dr. Craig Volk Vinall with the University of Tennessee Health Science Center said fluoridating water in the US has been happening for decades.
“Fluoride is a natural occurring mineral. It’s in the food we eat; it’s in the water we drink without being added, so one of the pushes is to have it removed from drinking water,” Dr. Volk Vinall said. “A lot of times, they’re specially talking about the fluoride that added by municipalities.”
Fox said there’s been court cases that cite studies showing health impacts after long-term exposure.
The CDC recommends fluoride to be 0.7 milligrams, which is about three drops of water in a 55 gallon barrel.
Dr. Vinall said utilities can add fluoride when the natural level isn’t at the recommended level to protect teeth health.
Fox said there’s also ethical concerns.
“Even though it has this benefit, this is also an issue of people’s right to against having medical treatment imposed upon them,” Fox said.
He said that argument was used in Utah and Florida when the states recently banned the fluoridation of water.
Vinall said while there’s not much data showing negative impacts, health organizations still support the use of fluoride because of the data showcasing the benefits to community health.
“From a public health standpoint, just the protective benefits; we don’t want children or our population to experience pain unnecessarily,” Dr. Vinall said. “But from a financial standpoint, the coast of dentistry is expensive.”
He said health organizations want to learn more about fluoride and its impact.
Studies are being done, but he said it takes time to get results.
Right now, Commissioner Fox has drafted an ordinance for commissioners to consider, so no change will be coming soon.
There will be a first reading at the end of this month, and the county commission will be able to vote at the next meeting.
From there, the utility board of commissioners will need to give customers 30 days notice. Then, they will have a public meeting to vote.
Original article online at: https://www.wvlt.tv/2025/06/10/knox-county-commissioner-pushing-remove-fluoride-drinking-water-his-district/