The Louisiana Senate approves legislation that would allow local governments to hold a vote to see if their residents want to have fluoride removed from their drinking water. Houma Republican Mike Fesi is the author of the bill; he says fluoride is bad for your body and your brain.
“In a lot of kids, it’s a known fact; a lot of children, where fluoride is dominant, their IQs are lower than areas that their fluoride is not put into the water,” Fesi explained.
The measure passed on a 26-7 vote. Some Democrats voted for the legislation, like Lafayette Senator Gerald Boudreaux, who is fine with giving Louisiana voters an opportunity to decide if they do not want fluoride in their water.
“If you wanted to take it away, then you would have to have a vote of the people. That’s what we’re supposed to be doing, is allowing those municipalities who want out to opt out by a vote of the people,” Boudreaux said.
Local governments began adding fluoride to public water systems in the mid-1900s as a way to prevent tooth decay. Health experts say it’s safe. But Fesi says more research keeps coming out on how fluoride impacts your body, including parts of your brain.
“The penial gland secretes melatonin to help you sleep at night. And if it gets calcified by fluoride, it doesn’t work anymore. And how many people do you know that say ‘Now I take melatonin at night to sleep?"” Fesi asked.
This measure still needs House approval.