LEESBURG, Fla. – The city of Leesburg will move forward with plans to add fluoride to the city’s water supply despite concerns from Florida’s top doctor.
In June, the city of Leesburg approved a fluoridation plan.
Leesburg’s government has already spent $300,000 to buy the equipment to add fluoride to drinking water. Another $300,000 will need to be spent to hook up the equipment.
However, the city was reconsidering, because Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo came out against community water fluoridation.
“So, we’re just in limbo right now. We don’t know whether we’re going to do it, whether we’re not going to do it,” Leesburg Mayor Jimmy Burry said.
Ladapo’s concerns stem from reports that high fluoride exposure has potential neuropsychiatric effects on pregnant women and children.
Those reports were based on fluoride levels that were significantly higher than standard recommended levels.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets a daily upper limit of 0.7 mg of fluoride/liter of drinking water.
The document Ladapo cited found lower IQs in children who had been exposed to total fluoride amounts higher than 1.5 mg/L.
[RELATED: How much fluoride is too much?]
A Leesburg commissioner requested a pause on the project to allow for further discussion.
However, after hearing the presentation, and listening to the public, the city voted to move forward with the facility.
Dentists have widely supported community fluoridation, saying the addition has aided in reducing tooth decay, which can be important for overall health.
“Fluoridation in community water supplies started 80 years ago,” said retired dentist Dr. Wade Winker, who will speak out at the meeting, along with several other dentists.
Winker said there is no evidence of negative effects in the recommended fluoride concentration in any of the reports Ladapo referenced.
“Do you believe people here in Leesburg would have stronger teeth if there were fluoride in the water?” News 6 Reporter Stephanie Rodriguez asked.
“There’s no question,” Winker replied. “All the research that I’ve studied over the last 37 years indicates that there’s at least a 25 percent reduction in tooth decay when fluoride is available for the residents in that city.”
The Florida Dental Association issued a statement in November reaffirming its support for community fluoridation.
Burry also continues to support the effort.
“I rely on the American Dental Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, the AMA, American Medical Association, every major organization that represents medical professionals are advocates of putting fluoride in the water,” he said. “So, to me, I think it’s a health issue. There’s nothing foggy in my mind about it. I think it’s a good thing for the kids of Leesburg.”
About 70% of Floridians live in places where water is fluoridated, according to Florida’s health department.
The announcement by Ladapo last month touched off concerns in local governments across the state.
The city of Tavares, also in Lake County, is also looking at removing fluoride from drinking water systems.
The city of Winter Haven recently voted to remove fluoride from drinking water, and Hillsborough County is also considering doing that.
Meanwhile, according to News 6 partners Vox Populi, both Orange County and the city of Ocoee are waiting for guidance from state and federal environmental agencies before considering changes to their fluoride program.
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