A bill awaiting the governor's signature would prohibit adding fluoride to public water systems.

AI Summary:

  • Utah is poised to ban fluoride in public water systems, pending the governor’s signature.
  • The bill prohibits adding fluoride to public water and repeals previous related laws.
  • Federal health secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has criticized fluoride, influencing the bill.
  • Studies on fluoride’s impact on children’s IQ have mixed results, with some showing negative effects and others showing no harm.
  • Major public health groups support fluoridation for dental health benefits.
  • The anti-fluoridation movement has gained popularity post-Covid-19.
  • Similar legislation is proposed in Florida, emphasizing the importance of consent in public health measures.
  • @PlaidBaron
    0•4 hours ago

    So rural and poor communities dont have access to healthier options or proper dental care and the solution your country picked was to put fluoride in the water instead of trying to actually support the poor.

    What a country.

    • @[email protected]English
      1•2 hours ago

      Hmm. You realise we’re talking about Australia right? We have some of the best universal healthcare, and social security in the world.

      Additives like fluoride in water, iodine in salt, and folic acid in flour disproportionately benefit people with lower incomes because in many cases their nutrition and other health care is not great due to lifestyle preferences, or co-morbidities that are resistant to health interventions like substance abuse or mental illness or cultural norms.

      Another problem in Australia is low population density. A small town might be several hundred kilometers from the nearest dentist. If everyone in that place agrees to fluoridate the water, where’s the harm in that ?

      We do have government funded free dental services, although I admit the wait times can be considerable.