New York City Council bill proposes prohibition of fluoride in city's tap water supply
In a move that could potentially reshape public health policies in New York City, Democratic Council Member James Gennaro has introduced a bill seeking to ban fluoride from the city's drinking water. Gennaro, who is the lead sponsor of the legislation, has expressed growing concern about the levels of fluoride in American water supplies. His interest in the issue stems from research that questions whether Americans are receiving too much fluoride. The council member is currently working with a professor at Queens College to delve deeper into the issue of fluoride in drinking water. However, he has chosen to keep the identity of his collaborator confidential. The bill, if passed, would require the city to provide free fluoride supplements to anyone who requests them. This move is in response to the bill's supporters, who view the current practice of fluoridating water as "forced medication" of an entire population. The current level of fluoride in New York City's drinking water is 0.7 milligrams per liter. This level was recommended by the Health and Human Services in 2011, following a decrease from a range of 0.7 to 1.2 milligrams per liter. However, recent studies have raised concerns about the safety of fluoride. An analysis published by the National Institutes of Health found that higher levels of fluoride exposure in children were associated with lower I.Q. scores. Another study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the prevalence of dental fluorosis was rising among adolescents in the early 2000s. It's important to note that the bill does not cover the benefits of fluoridated water and is not meant to address its "broader public health implications". Robert F. Kennedy Jr., known for his scepticism towards established medicine, has put the federal government's existing vaccine recommendations in its crosshairs. However, Gennaro clarified that he is not directly influenced by Kennedy in introducing the bill. If the fluoride ban were to pass in New York City, it would find some company. Fluoride is not added to the drinking water in Nassau or Suffolk counties. Gennaro believes that the trend points towards de-fluoridation and that action to ban fluoride might be indicated. The fate of the bill remains to be seen, but it has certainly sparked a conversation about the role of fluoride in our drinking water.
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