Stel Bailey | Investigative Journalist + Environmental Health Advocate
From Fertilizer Waste to Drinking Water
Hydrofluorosilicic acid is produced when phosphate ore is processed with sulfuric acid, releasing toxic gases like hydrogen fluoride and silicon tetrafluoride. To prevent air pollution, these gases are captured in scrubbers, condensed into a 23% solution, and stored in large outdoor ponds. From there, the liquid is transported across the country and injected into municipal water supplies under the banner of “public health.”
This means that what millions of Americans drink daily is not a purified pharmaceutical substance, but an industrial waste product repurposed into a dental treatment.
A Nationwide Practice
Today, three out of four Americans drink fluoridated water. Fluoridation began in 1945, before fluoride-containing toothpaste even existed. By the time Crest launched the first fluoride toothpaste in 1955, fluoridation had already been normalized in many communities.
The U.S. government revisited its fluoride guidelines only once in half a century: in 2015, when the Department of Health and Human Services lowered its recommended levels to address increasing cases of dental fluorosis—a condition caused by excessive fluoride exposure that stains and weakens tooth enamel.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 41% of American children now show some degree of dental fluorosis, a rate that has increased significantly over the past three decades.
Health and Environmental Concerns
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) acknowledges that some children consume too much fluoride because of their high water intake relative to body weight. Research shows that adults retain roughly 36% of ingested fluoride, while children retain around 50%, most of which accumulates in bones and teeth. Small amounts are also stored in soft tissue, raising concerns about long-term exposure.
Critics argue that fluoridation introduces ethical and environmental problems:
- Lack of informed consent – Citizens cannot opt out of fluoride exposure if it’s in their tap water.
- Industrial origins – Unlike regulated pharmaceuticals, hydrofluorosilicic acid is a waste stream product.
- Precedent for other additives – Some scientists have even suggested adding lithium to water supplies to reduce suicide rates, raising slippery-slope questions about medicating entire populations through drinking water.
Military, Politics, and Public Trust
At a Melbourne City Council meeting, some votes in favor of fluoridation cited Department of Defense support for fluoride use on military bases. Yet the U.S. military is also among the nation’s largest polluters, responsible for widespread contamination from substances once thought safe, including Agent Orange and PFAS (“forever chemicals”). Critics point out that appealing to military endorsement ignores the history of environmental and health damage linked to Defense Department-approved chemicals.
Meanwhile, political lobbying adds further complexity. Pro-fluoride lobbyists, such as Johnny Johnson in Florida, actively fund campaigns of local officials who oppose fluoride removal, blurring the line between science-based decision-making and political influence.
Beyond Melbourne: A National Debate
What happened in Melbourne reflects a broader U.S. debate: Should water treatment be limited strictly to purification, or should municipal water double as a vehicle for mass medication? Groups like Fight For Zero emphasize they are not “anti-fluoride” but oppose the use of hydrofluorosilicic acid, insisting that communities deserve clean water free from industrial byproducts.
The fluoridation issue ultimately intersects with larger environmental justice concerns. Just as communities are fighting against PFAS contamination, pesticide residues, and industrial discharges, the addition of fertilizer waste into public water systems raises questions about who bears the burden of industrial pollution—and whether the public has truly consented.
Sources for Further Reading
- U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (2015). Public Health Service Recommendation for Fluoride Concentration in Drinking Water.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Dental Fluorosis Data & Trends.
- National Research Council (2006). Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Scientific Review of EPA’s Standards.
- Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Basic Information about Fluoride in Drinking Water.
- Environmental Health Perspectives (2009). Trends in Dental Fluorosis Prevalence in the United States.
- Academy of Medical Sciences. Retention and Distribution of Fluoride in the Human Body.
- U.S. Department of Defense. Environmental Exposures and Toxic Substances Reports
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| Fluoride lobbyist Johnny Johnson with a representative of the Department of Health |
