SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — You may soon have the chance to vote on removing fluoride from your drinking water.
Lawmakers have passed Senate Bill 4, which gives local governing bodies the authority to hold an election in which voters can decide whether to remove fluoride from their drinking water. The bill was introduced by Senator Michael Fesi and is now awaiting the governor’s signature.
Fesi has previously argued that fluoride causes health problems in children, including lowering their IQ, but organizations like the Louisiana Dental Association argue that years of evidence show that fluoride is a safe and effective public health measure, especially when it comes to reducing dental decay.
According to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), “many Louisiana residents lack access to regular dental care, which further underscores the importance of expanding community water fluoridation in the state. In communities with fluoridated water, residents are encouraged to drink the tap water to benefit from this added protection.”
The LDH also states that only 39% of Louisiana residents benefit from community water fluoridation, compared to almost 75% nationally.
Original article online at: https://www.ktalnews.com/news/louisiana/louisiana-fluoride-vote-law/