When Ilana Decker transitioned from her home nation of Israel to New York three years prior, her opinions often diverged from those of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. She is not fond of his belief that health mandates should not be a government concern, as this makes her feel as though she is aligning with anti-vaccination sentiments. However, she acknowledges particular alignment with Kennedy on a unique topic. She is in agreement with Donald Trump’s health and human services secretary selection, who has openly proposed halting the long-standing policy of encouraging fluoridation in America’s water supply. Drawing from the removal of fluoride from Israel’s water a decade earlier, Decker advocates for this alteration in policy.
Coming from her lived experience, Decker says, ‘While I am not generally in agreement with RFK Jr., I truly feel that fluoride shouldn’t be present in our water.’ She holds a deep-seated worry about possible dangers posed to children and therefore, chose a fluoride-free toothpaste variant for her four-year-old child. Despite her reservations, she didn’t utterly dismiss the use of fluoride. Her argument primarily revolves around preserving personal choices regarding their health, rather than leaving it completely in the hands of government authorities.
The selection of Kennedy, known for his anti-vaccine activism and critical views of health agencies, has flung popular debates back into the spotlight. These debates often question the role of government in public health matters, and the degree of influence skepticism in science should have over legislative decisions. The practice of water fluoridation provides context to further understand these debates.
As per data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, introducing fluoride in water has been found to lessen cavity occurrences in both children and adults by roughly 25%, over one’s lifetime. Due to this steep reduction, the organization has praised water fluoridation as one of the 10 incredibly successful public health revolutions of the 20th century.
Detractors of fluoride application, however, indicate studies that display potential developmental issues in children exposed to significant levels of the mineral – beyond what standard fluoridated water holds. They also reference an array of underlying conspiracy theories suggesting the government’s aim to control the populace through the practice of adding fluoride to water. Kennedy, for instance, dubs fluoride as ‘industrial waste,’ a ‘perilous neurotoxin,’ and has vowed to see fluoridation terminated upon his induction to office.
Reflecting upon Israel’s bold move to cease water fluoridation in 2013, we can dissect such decision-making. The change in policy could potentially provide an informative backdrop for America to evaluate the possible impacts of de-fluoridation.
A significant advocate for fluoridation, Shlomo Zusman, Israel’s former Chief Dental Officer, warns that opposition to it sets a dangerous precedent considering the success of fluorication in public health. With modern water purification technologies in place, Zusman argues that augmentation of the water supply is inevitable. He also highlights a crucial aspect – that 75% of Israel’s potable water undergoes desalination and thus is void of any natural fluoride.
Debating the common perception around ‘natural’ water free of added fluoride, Zusman argues it’s a fallacy – it is neither flowing directly from a spring nor untouched in any way. Drawing from the institutional changes in water procurement and consumption methods, he hints at the fact that traditional practices like fetching water from wells are long gone.
Historically, Israel initiated mandatory fluoridation across almost all municipalities. However, in a surprising turn of events in 2013, then health minister Yael German pledged to put a halt to this requirement, indicating possible risks for pregnant women, thyroid patients, and the elderly. This decision evoked public opposition from multiple groups including a pediatricians’ association.
After putting an end to fluoride in the tap water, dentists in Israel recorded a remarkable increase in cavities among children, leading to a call for reinstating fluoride. Despite this concern, many parents remain adamant in their opposition to re-introducing fluoride due to its potential risks. After discontinuing fluoridation, similar dental health problems have also been observed in Great Britain.
However, not all Israelis are keen to reintroduce fluoride. In a Facebook group of Israeli mothers, many members suggested that poor dental hygiene and increased consumption of sugary snacks among children were more likely behind the rise in cavities than the absence of fluoride.
Instances of drawing links between increased fluoride levels and decreased child IQ have also surfaced. Reacting to these, Zusman dismisses them as trends that come and go. Jumping from attributing hip fractures to cancer, stunted growth in boys to ADHD and IQ, he suggests that these claims are more about fashion than fact.
In the end, he emphasizes his personal stake in the matter, indicating his own resolve to stop the practice if substantial, professional studies were to demonstrate harm. He underlines, ‘If there were compelling, professional studies showing negative effects, I’d be the first to call for stopping fluoridation of the water. After all, the well-being of my eight grandchildren is at stake.’