Baltimore's tap water is getting a tweak, thanks to a global conflict half a world away. The city's Department of Public Works says it's temporarily cutting fluoride levels in drinking water, citing supply chain problems tied in part to the war in Iran and broader regional turmoil. Levels will drop 42%, from about 0.7 milligrams per liter—the federal recommendation—to 0.4 mg/L at two major filtration plants, reports the Hill. Officials stress that the water remains safe and fully compliant with state and federal standards, noting there's no minimum fluoride requirement and that the additive isn't mandated by law. Fluoride is widely used to help prevent cavities; roughly three-quarters of Americans receive fluoridated water.
The DPW is recommending that Baltimore residents, especially those with kids, contact their dentist or other health care provider for suggestions on other ways to get fluoride during this stopgap, reports the Baltimore Sun. The disruption comes as Israel, a key exporter of the fluorosilicic acid used in US water systems, faces ongoing conflict, and as the federal government reexamines fluoridation policy, per the Hill. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has said he wants the CDC to stop recommending fluoridation, and in January the EPA launched an expedited review of fluoride's potential health risks. The AP, which reports that a number of other water utilities are experiencing similar issues, has more on what can happen over the long term if fluoride levels in drinking water remain low.
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