Arizona lawmaker wants to ban fluoride in drinking water

A state lawmaker wants to ban fluoride in drinking water, but several cities use it.

Sen. Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) introduced legislation this week to ban fluoride in public drinking water.

The legislation comes in the wake of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. calling for states to ban fluoride earlier this year — citing a 2024 study showing a correlation between high fluoride levels and lower IQ in children.

However, that report studied much higher fluoride concentrations than Arizona water contains. Since Kennedy’s call to states, both Utah and Florida have banned it.

Shamp said in a statement that fluoridation is a “form of mass medication without informed consent,” which she cannot support.

“In a free society like ours, medical decisions should be personal, not mandated by the government. … It’s now time for Arizona to embrace medical liberty and protect our children's health by ensuring that our drinking water remains free from unnecessary chemicals,” Shamp said.

She noted Kennedy’s support for “unadulterated water” and argued that fluoridation costs taxpayers millions.

Fluoride is found naturally in water and is restricted to a certain level in drinking water.

Some cities, including Phoenix, add it to public water supplies, and have done so for decades to prevent tooth decay.

Phoenix Water Services Department spokesperson Michael Gertzman said in an email that Phoenix’s practices are in line with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s guidance.

“Phoenix maintains fluoride levels at 0.7 parts per million, which is the optimal concentration recommended by the CDC. The City routinely tests its water supply to ensure compliance with all federal and state drinking water standards,” Gertzman said.