“This is the same board that promised transparency. The same leadership that said they would run this utility the right way. And now they can’t even follow a basic notification statute before taking public health measures away from the drinking water of hundreds of thousands of people,” Woodfin wrote.
According to local WVTM13 news, late last week, the city of Birmingham filed a lawsuit against CAW, claiming CAW failed to notify them of the change and requesting an emergency court order to resume fluoridation. The city claimed in its filing that removing fluoride from the water threatens the dental health of residents, including low-income residents and children who do not have access to dental care.
When contacted by Ars Technica, the city of Birmingham declined to comment on the lawsuit. CAW told reporters it does not comment on pending litigation.
fluoride recommendations
The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend fluoridating community water to prevent tooth decay, especially in children. In areas where fluoridated water is not available, medical experts recommend prescribing fluoride supplements for children.
Water fluoridation is considered one of the top 10 public health achievements. Yet, since its introduction in the US in 1945, unfounded fears and conspiracy theories have been circulating about the practice. Such concerns have been raised again in recent years by anti-vaccine Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Although he has no background in medicine, public health, or science, Kennedy has rejected the scientific evidence on fluoridation and made strong, unfounded claims that fluoridated water is unsafe. As health secretary, he has pledged to remove it from US waters. A modeling study conducted last year by Harvard University researchers found that if Kennedy follows through on that pledge, it would lead to more than 25 million lost teeth among children and teens in the first five years.
Health experts have also specifically rejected the idea that fluoridation is no longer necessary due to the availability of fluoride-containing toothpastes and mouthwashes. In comments to NBC News, Scott Tomer, head of the department of population oral health at the University of Illinois Chicago, said: “It is certainly true that fluoride-containing toothpaste is effective in preventing decay, but it is not true that that alone justifies removing fluoride from our drinking water.” Tomar said CAW’s move to remove fluoride would put residents at risk of more cavities. “It probably puts the youngest children at greatest risk, because that’s usually where we see it first when fluoridation stops,” he said.
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