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Public commenter urges council to end water fluoridation, cites health studies
Summary
A resident at the March 17 meeting urged Roanoke City Council to end fluoridation of the city’s public water supply and to begin a formal evaluation process, citing scientific studies and ethical concerns with mass medication via drinking water.
A resident used the public‑comment period March 17 to urge Roanoke City Council to discontinue fluoridation of the city’s drinking water and to begin a formal local process (resolution, public hearing, ordinance, staff direction and an oversight committee) to evaluate removal.
The commenter stated that Roanoke’s water is fluoridated to an average concentration of about 0.695 milligrams per liter, near the Virginia Department of Health recommendation of 0.7 mg/L, and cited published research (including a 2019 JAMA Pediatrics study linking maternal urinary fluoride to a reduction in offspring IQ per the speaker’s description) and a National Research Council meta‑analysis as sources raising concerns. The speaker asserted that fluoridation is not an essential nutrient and raised ethical concerns about mass medication via public water.
The speaker recommended a precautionary approach and listed a sequence of actions for the council to consider: introduce a resolution, schedule a public hearing, propose an ordinance, direct staff analysis and establish an oversight committee. The speaker also listed cities and countries that have ceased water fluoridation (the speaker referenced multiple U.S. municipalities and several European countries) and asserted fiscal and environmental reasons tied to procurement of hydrofluorosilicic acid.
Council response and context: The comment was part of the public‑comment period; the council did not vote on water fluoridation or direct staff to begin the actions requested at the March 17 meeting. The Virginia Department of Health guideline of about 0.7 mg/L was referenced by the speaker; the transcript contains the commenter’s citations but council action on the request was not taken at the meeting.
Clarifying note: The speaker referenced peer‑reviewed studies and national reviews; those studies and their findings were cited in oral testimony and would require independent verification for accuracy and applicability to local policy.
