SPARTA, Tenn. (WKRN) — “We are putting a poison in our water system and I think we need to removed,” Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowrey told News 2.
That’s what Sparta’s mayor is saying about fluoride in the city’s drinking water.
Fluoride has been added to much of Tennessee’s drinking water for more than five decades, sparking health concerns for some.
Back in December, a Montgomery County Utility Board made a controversial decision to stop adding fluoride to their water supply. Lowrey said this a move many cities across the nation are considering.
However, a bill to ban fluoride from drinking water in Tennessee failed in a senate committee in March.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been outspoken in his support to remove fluoride, citing health concerns in children and their intellectual development.
“Fluoride really has reduced the amount of cavities in the population,” said Dr. Brett Kessler, president of the American Dental Association.
In addition, some health experts say removing fluoride from water could create a lifetime of dental problems. News 2 spoke with doctor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center who strongly endorses the use of fluoride in drinking water.
“When it was in drinking water in very, very small amounts, it actually strengthened the enamel, the white covering our teeth,” said Dr. William Schaffner. “It profoundly reduced tooth decay, particularly among children, but also among adults.
However, Lowery asked city leaders to come to their own conclusion.
“About three to four months ago, I told the city alderman to do their research on it, do their own studies, talk to their constituents and residents,” Lowery said.
Last month, Lowery held a town hall meeting where city leaders heard from countless residents who said they would like fluoride to be removed.
“It blew my mind away that 100 percent of the citizens that showed up to the meeting was for removing fluoride from the water system,” Lowery added.
Mayor Lowery said the city plans on voting on fluoride removal around mid-August.
Original article online at: https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/we-are-putting-a-poison-into-our-water-system-sparta-considers-fluoride-removal-from-drinking-water/