Lee County removes fluoride from water after unanimous vote by commissioners

Reporter: Annette Montgomery
Published: Updated:

Fluoride will soon be removed from the Lee County water supply. This decision came after commissioners voted unanimously to eliminate it.

WINK News anchor Annette Montgomery reported that Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo addressed the commissioners about this controversial issue.

“I’m happy to be supportive of any communities in Florida that are interested in making a change for good health,” said Ladapo. He expressed his strong support for Lee County’s decision to remove fluoride from the water.

For over an hour, various individuals, including children, shared their views on the pros and cons of fluoride in the water. Opinions were divided.

Robert V. from Lee County urged commissioners to “consider the ethical health, environmental, and economic implications of fluoridating our water. Let’s move towards a policy that respects individual choice.”

Daniel Becker, also from Lee County, said, “The benefits of fluoride in drinking water are well documented.”

Ladapo emphasized the risks, saying, “It’s insane to continue to support this with the information that we have now. And you know, who suffers the most? Well, so far, it’s children and pregnant women.”

Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass highlighted that Florida is leading the way in eliminating fluoride from the water. He said that 40 out of the 67 counties in Florida do not add fluoride to drinking water, and Lee County has joined that list.

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