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Robert F. Kennedy Jr. waded into a new scientific debate Saturday by saying that Donald Trump’s administration would recommend removing fluoride from the nation’s water supplies if the former president wins Tuesday’s presidential election.

“On January 20, the Trump White House will advise all US. water systems to remove fluoride from public water. Fluoride is an industrial waste associated with arthritis, fractures, bone cancer, IQ loss, neurodevelopmental disorders and thyroid disease,” Kennedy, a former independent presidential candidate, wrote in a social media post.

Trump has suggested that Kennedy, who was an environmental lawyer before entering politics, would oversee a health care portfolio in his next administration.

At a campaign rally in New York last week, Trump said he would let Kennedy “go wild on health,” “go wild on food” and “go wild on medicine.” At a rally in Michigan on Friday, Trump said Kennedy would “play a big role in health care” and “has some views that I very strongly agree with.”

This is what health experts are considering as the public health practice of adding fluoride to America’s water supply comes under increasing scrutiny.

Fluoride occurs naturally in the environment in water and rocks, as well as in some foods. According to the CDC, the mineral may also be a byproduct of some industry.

A federal judge in September ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to take additional steps to regulate fluoride in drinking water because of the potential risk that higher levels of the mineral could affect children’s intellectual development.

U.S. District Judge Edward Chen ruled that while it is not clear whether the amount of fluoride typically added to water causes a drop in IQ in children, there is enough risk to warrant investigation and that the EPA should take further action to determine this. regulate. The ruling did not specify what actions the EPA must take and the agency is currently reviewing the decision.

And experts agree that despite the politicization of the issue, more research is needed to understand the effect on fluoride – not just on young children, but also on the general population.

Dr. Ashley Malin, an assistant professor in the Department of Epidemiology at the University of Florida’s College of Public Health and Health Professions, told CNN in an email that “protecting vulnerable populations from environmental toxins is a nonpartisan issue that must remain informed by the current state. of science.”

“I believe that the health effects of fluoride on young children, especially in the area of ​​neurological development, have been sufficiently studied that it has now been established that there is a danger to children’s IQ. However, I would argue that more research is needed to better understand the impact of chronic low-level fluoride exposure on adult health outcomes because that research is scarce,” said Malin.

A federal review published in August by the National Toxicology Program of the National Institutes of Health concluded that higher levels of fluoride are linked to lowered IQ in children.

The program based its conclusion on studies where fluoride levels were about twice the recommended U.S. limit for drinking water.

However, the study also noted that exposure levels at lower levels were less definitive: “The evidence of an association between fluoride exposure below 1.5 mg/l and lower IQ in children appeared less consistent than the results of studies at higher exposure levels .”

Previous research has also found that higher levels of fluoride exposure during pregnancy were associated with a decline in IQ in children.

A 2019 study of Canadian mothers and children found that for every additional 1 milligram per liter of fluoride concentration in a mother’s urine, male IQ dropped by 4.5 points. The study did not find that there was such a significant link in female children, nor did it investigate why boys were more significantly affected.

What we know about fluoride and health

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends community water fluoridation as a cost-effective way to improve Americans’ oral health.

Exposure to fluoride above the public health recommended amount for many years can lead to skeletal fluorosis, a condition that is rare in the US and causes weaker bones and joint pain. Too much fluoride can also lead to dental fluorosis, which is cosmetic and can cause the outer enamel layer of the tooth to develop white specks or lines.

Recent research into the link between cancer and fluoride levels has found no link, according to the CDC and the American Cancer Society.

There is also no evidence that fluoride can cause birth defects in humans, according to the CDC.

The mineral can help prevent tooth decay by strengthening the protective outer enamel layer that can be worn away by acids formed by bacteria, plaque and sugars in the mouth. Adding fluoride to public water systems began in 1945 in the United States.

According to data from the CDC, nearly three-quarters of the U.S. population—about 209 million people—is now served by drinking water systems that have been fluoridated.

State and local governments control most water supplies in municipalities across the country. Some communities across the country, such as Portland, Oregon and Tucson, Arizona, have voted not to add fluoride to their water.

Recent reports suggest that the benefits of adding fluoride to the water supply may not be as great as they once were, especially with the widespread use of toothpaste containing fluoride, which has been available since the 1970s.

Last month, a report from the Cochrane Collaboration, an independent group that systematically analyzes scientific research, found only a small benefit from adding fluoride to tap water, leading to slightly fewer cavities in children’s baby teeth.

Other studies have found that on average, fluoride in water only makes a difference in tooth decay in about a quarter of a tooth, according to the Cochrane report.

However, the American Dental Association says that fluoride in community water supplies is “the most effective public health measure for preventing tooth decay.”

“Studies prove that water fluoridation remains effective in reducing tooth decay by at least 25% in children and adults, even during times when fluoride from other sources, such as fluoride toothpaste, is widely available,” the ADA says on its website.

The CDC continues to promote the safety and benefits of water fluoridation in the community.

“Water fluoridation has been identified as the most cost-effective method of delivering fluoride to all community members, regardless of age, education or income level,” the agency wrote in a statement in May.

If you’re concerned about your fluoride intake, you can switch to bottled water, look for water filters that filter out fluoride, and make sure your kids don’t swallow their toothpaste.