Dec. 19 (UPI) — At a time when the nominee to lead Health and Human Services has called for an end to public water fluoridation, a small town in Florida has voted to remove the chemical from its water system.
City leaders in Tavares, Fla., on Wednesday approved removing fluoride from the city’s water supply.
The Tavares City Council voted 4-1 to end fluoridation of drinking water, which Florida Surgeon General Dr. Joseph Ladapo called a “public health malpractice,” Spectrum News reported.
Ladapo addressed the city council meeting and is a noted critic of fluoridation of public drinking water. He also has been a vocal critic of measures to prevent the spread of COVID and even has questioned the validity of using vaccines, as well. He was appointed to his position by Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2021.
Ladapo and a researcher from the University of Florida spoke with the council, which also heard public comments before its five members voted on the matter.
Putting fluoride in public drinking water creates a risk of neurological problems for young children and pregnant women, including attention deficit and behavioral problem, Ladapo said.