As States Reconsider Fluoride, Will Arkansas Be Next?
Arkansas lawmakers debate water fluoridation as states like Florida and Utah ban the practice. Learn how the issue affects residents, public health, and legislation.
Once widely accepted as a trusted method to prevent tooth decay, water fluoridation is now facing renewed scrutiny across the United States. Concerns about potential health risks, particularly at higher exposure levels, have prompted both state and federal agencies to reexamine this long-standing public health practice. The issue has also become politically charged, with many Republicans calling for a full ban on fluoride in public water systems while most Democrats continue to support its use when managed safely.
Just last week, Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont, a Democrat, signed legislation requiring the state to maintain its current fluoride levels. Meanwhile, Republican-led states like Florida and Utah have moved in the opposite direction, banning the practice entirely. More states may soon follow their lead.
Fluoride’s Public Health Legacy
Fluoride has been added to public water systems in the United States since the 1940s to help prevent tooth decay and strengthen enamel. The American Dental Association points to more than seventy years of research and thousands of studies confirming that fluoridation is safe and effective for people of all ages. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention considers it one of the top ten public health achievements of the twentieth century.
Rising Opposition
Despite this history, opposition to water fluoridation is increasing. Critics warn that excessive fluoride intake may pose health risks, including potential kidney and liver damage, and could be linked to lower IQ in children. One of the most vocal opponents is Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has repeatedly questioned the safety of the practice.
In 2024, the toxicology program of the National Institutes of Health stated that there is moderate confidence in a link between high fluoride exposure and reduced IQ. However, the studies cited involved fluoride levels roughly twice as high as the current recommended limit for drinking water.
The American Academy of Pediatrics criticized the NIH report, highlighting several limitations, particularly the unusually high fluoride levels studied. They also noted that other major reviews have drawn different conclusions about the overall risks and benefits of fluoride.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) lowered the recommended fluoride levels in drinking water in 2011 to help prevent fluorosis, a condition that can seriously affect children’s teeth. This change followed a 2006 report from the National Academy of Sciences, which warned that long-term exposure to excessive fluoride could lead to weak bones and other dental problems.
Legislative Battles in Arkansas
Fluoride legislation has become a flashpoint across the United States, with at least nineteen states introducing bills in 2024 to ban, restrict, or make fluoridation optional in public water systems. Arkansas was among them, but the effort ultimately failed. A proposal to repeal the state’s 2011 mandate requiring fluoride in public water systems stalled in the House in April.
Senate Bill 2, which aimed to eliminate the fluoride requirement, faced challenges from the outset. Introduced on November 20, 2024, it initially failed in a Senate committee before being revived through a procedural move and narrowly passing the full Senate. Once it reached the House, the bill was sent to the Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee, where it was voted down ten to seven, with one member voting present.
The bill’s lead sponsor, Senator Clint Penzo of Springdale, cited concerns over fluoride’s potential health risks, particularly its impact on children’s cognitive development. He pointed to a National Institutes of Health study suggesting that fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams per liter could affect brain development in children, though the study did not confirm whether the currently recommended level of 0.7 milligrams per liter posed the same risk.
Under Arkansas law, water systems serving more than five thousand residents and capable of affording fluoridation equipment are required to maintain fluoride levels at 0.7 milligrams per liter. As of a 2002 CDC report, roughly 88.5 percent of Arkansans have access to fluoridated water.
Future of Fluoride in Arkansas
As skepticism around water fluoridation grows nationwide and more states move to restrict or ban the practice, Arkansas is unlikely to stand apart. As a deeply conservative Republican state, it would not be surprising to see it follow the lead of Florida and Utah in the near future.
