Chapter 24

Fluoride & Public Water

The documented history of water fluoridation — from its industrial origins to its adoption as public health policy.

Veritas Worldwide · March 2026 · 1945–Present

The official narrative of water fluoridation is a public health triumph. The documented history tells a more complicated story — one that begins not in a dental clinic but in an aluminum smelting plant.

WHY THIS MATTERS The water you drink, cook with, and bathe in every day likely contains fluoride. This chapter examines the evidence that this ubiquitous chemical, long promoted as a public health triumph, may be an industrial pollutant with serious health consequences, particularly for our children. Understanding the true story of fluoride is essential for making informed decisions about the water you and your family consume. 72.3% OF THE U.S. POPULATION ON PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS RECEIVES FLUORIDATED WATER $9.8B ESTIMATED 5-YEAR COST TO REMOVE FLUORIDE FROM U.S. PUBLIC WATER SYSTEMS