BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — President-elect Donald Trump has selected Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to head the Department of Health and Human Services. One of Kennedy's top priorities is removing fluoride from the nation's drinking water.
In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Kennedy said the Trump administration would advise all United States water systems to remove fluoride, citing its association with health complications like arthritis, bone cancer and IQ loss.
On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, bone fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders, and thyroid disease. President…
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 2, 2024
Marcelo Araujo, Dean of the School of Dental Medicine at the University at Buffalo, said fluoride is the most equitable source of oral health.
"So fluoride is actually one of the best innovations that ever happened in dentistry, and in terms of oral health, it's the number one thing that can prevent cavities," Araujo said.
This announcement from RFK Jr. comes as the Buffalo Water Board has reintroduced fluoride into the city's drinking water after nearly a decade.
The Buffalo Water Authority recently installed specially manufactured water pumps, flow meters and other necessary equipment to have fluoride back in the city's water.
Buffalo's fluoride levels will eventually reach 0.7 parts per million, the dosage recommended by the National Institutes of Health.
"We know fluoride works," Araujo said.
However, not everyone is on board with the Buffalo Water Board's decision.
At a Buffalo Common Council Committee meeting on Tuesday, some residents voiced opposition to the move.
Buffalo Water Concerns
"We have been misled to accept this toxic substance," one woman said.
"Water fluoridation is an inappropriate way to deliver medicine and denies people medical consent," another woman added.
In a statement to 7 News Buffalo Water Board's OJ McFoy said:
Buffalo Water adds fluoride to the City's municipal water system in alignment with recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to support dental health. Buffalo Water's setpoint is 0.7 mg/L, consistent with the guidelines set by the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS). For more information on community water fluoridation, you can visit the CDC's website at https://www.cdc.gov/fluoridation/faq/index.html [cdc.gov]. For any additional health-related questions, we encourage residents to consult their doctor, dentist, or medical provider.