Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava introduced Friday that she would veto a contentious measure passed by county commissioners just lately, which aimed to take away fluoride from the county’s ingesting water.
“The science could be very clear, the choice to take away fluoride ignores the steering of dentists and medical specialists,” Mayor Levine Cava stated throughout a press convention on the Stephen P. Clark Middle in Downtown Miami.
Levine Cava emphasised the potential hurt of eliminating fluoride, significantly for youngsters and households who can’t afford dental care. “Ending fluoridation may have an actual and lasting impression,” she stated, explaining that no main research have proven that fluoride, on the ranges utilized in Miami-Dade County’s water provide, poses hurt.
“For almost 70 years we adopted the suggestions of specialists so as to add fluoride to water. They proceed to affirm that water fluoridation is protected and efficient for dental well being,” the mayor added, citing the widespread assist for fluoridation from public well being specialists.
The mayor stated she spent a number of days consulting with dentists, docs, public well being professionals, and residents earlier than making her determination. “The general public well being implications of this proposal are too vital to disregard,” she stated.
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Nevertheless, Commissioner Roberto Gonzalez, who sponsored the measure to take away fluoride, issued a press release on social media criticizing the mayor’s veto. Gonzalez accused Levine Cava of letting politics cloud her determination, arguing that the measure had broad scientific and public backing. He additionally contended that the elimination of fluoride was necessary for safeguarding susceptible teams like pregnant girls and youngsters.
“The mayor’s determination places these teams in danger,” Gonzalez stated. “I urge my colleagues to as soon as once more be part of me in rising above the political fray and do what’s proper for the folks, their well being, and particular person freedom.”
Miami-Dade’s water fluoridation coverage, which has been in place for over six a long time, has garnered assist from organizations just like the World Well being Group, the CDC, and the American Dental Affiliation. These organizations have constantly endorsed fluoridation as a protected and efficient measure for lowering dental cavities, significantly in communities with restricted entry to dental care.
The Miami-Dade County Fee has the choice to override the mayor’s veto with a two-thirds majority vote, which may carry the talk again earlier than the general public. For now, the way forward for fluoride in Miami-Dade’s ingesting water stays unsure.
