- Lakeland officials have delayed a public hearing on whether to continue adding fluoride to the city’s drinking water.
- The delay comes as debate continues over the potential health benefits and risks of fluoride.
- Some officials want to attend a workshop in Bartow featuring experts on both sides of the issue.
Lakeland has chosen to delay its public hearing on whether the city will continue to add fluoride to its drinking water.
Public pressure has gradually increased on Lakeland officials over whether to continue fluoridation in an effort to prevent tooth decay. Residents and doctors have spoken up at several City Commission meetings this year on both sides of the issue.
Mayor Bill Mutz originally instructed city staff to schedule a public hearing for the commission’s second February meeting, Feb. 17. A public hearing on fluoridation does not appear on the commission’s agenda for Monday morning.
Several Lakeland officials have expressed interest in attending Bartow City Commission’s public workshop set for Feb. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Bartow Civic Center, 2250 S. Floral Ave. in Bartow.
Among those attending Bartow’s workshop will be Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and American Fluoridation Society President Johnny Johnson. Following a presentation from both sides, there will be an opportunity for questions and public comments.
Bartow is currently one of five municipalities that add fluoride to their water supply, with samples ranging from 0.50 to 0.67 mg/L, according to a 2022 report. Other cities who add supplemental fluoride are: Auburndale, Haine City, Lakeland and Lake Alfred.
City of Winter Haven officials made the decision to stop adding fluoride in its water in November, citing recent studies. The movement has since gained ground across the state with Ladapo strongly urging municipalities to discontinue the practice.
What’s the controversy about fluoride?
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in the soil. It can be found in groundwater and many foods, according to the National Institutes of Health. The mineral can inhibit or reverse the initiation and progress of tooth decay and stimulate new bone formation.
The American Dental Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics point to research that found fluoridated water reduces tooth decay by 25% in children and adults.
Critics of fluoridation, including Ladapo, point to a federal report from the U.S. Department of Health’s National Toxicology Program analyzing other medical studies on how fluoride affects children’s developing brains and IQs. The federal report linked high levels of fluoride in drinking water above 1.5 mg/L and total exposure in foreign countries with lower IQs in children, as USA Today reported.
But supporters of fluoridation say the National Toxicology Program’s report studied fluoridation in foreign countries —including Canada, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico — where fluoride levels are much higher than what’s allowed in the U.S.
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. The World Health Organization recommends fluoride levels not exceed 1.5 mg/L. The Environmental Protection Agency recommends families don’t drink water with fluoride levels higher than 2 mg/L, according to the USA Today report.
Still, some have begun questioning the continued need for fluoridated water, given the prevalence of fluoride in toothpaste and other dental products and its natural occurrence in water and food. Fluoride can be found in many foods, including shrimp, raisins, potatoes and oatmeal. Higher levels of the mineral are found in brewed tea and coffees, according to the National Institutes of Health, ranging from 0.07 to .22 milligrams per serving.
Who adds fluoride to their water in Polk County?
Hubbard, Winter Haven’s water director, said the following cities in Polk add supplemental fluoride to their water:
- Auburndale, samples ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 milligrams per liter
- Bartow, samples ranged from 0.50 to 0.67 mg/L, according to a 2022 city report.
- Haines City, samples ranged from 0 – 1.04 mg/L
- Lakeland, samples ranged from 0.62 to 0.66 mg/L
- Lake Alfred, samples ranged from 0.89 to 1.35 mg/L
Original article online at: https://www.theledger.com/story/news/local/2025/02/15/lakeland-delays-public-debate-on-fluoride-as-bartow-workshop-nears/78636681007/