The Baltimore City Department of Public Works is temporarily reducing the amount of fluoride added to drinking water, citing national supply chain disruptions due in part to the conflict in the Middle East.
Drinking water will remain safe for consumption, the department said Monday in a news release. Fluoride levels will be lowered from 0.7 milligrams per liter to 0.4 milligrams per liter at the Ashburton and Montebello filtration plants.
Baltimore’s public water system serves residents in the city and in Howard and Baltimore counties.
“This is an adjustment driven solely by supply availability,” Matthew Garbark, the department’s director, said in the release. “We remain committed to providing safe, high-quality drinking water.”
A key supplier in Israel is experiencing “significant operational disruptions” due to the conflict in the Middle East, according to the release. The department also said it has struggled with reduced domestic production.
The U.S. is among the top five importers of fluorosilicic acid, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Israel is one of the world’s top exporters of fluoride.
At least one Israeli supplier is struggling with its workforce because many employees were called into active military service, reported the Associated Press.
Last week, WSSC Water, which serves Montgomery County and Prince George’s County residents, said it would reduce fluoride in its water system due to supply issues.
There are no minimum federal or state requirements for fluoride in water treatment. Leading public health organizations, including the World Health Organization and the American Dental Association, recommend 0.5 to 1 milligrams of added fluoride to prevent tooth decay and reduce the risk of cavities.
Charles Doring, president of the Maryland State Dental Association, warned against removing fluoride from the water system, saying dental care costs would increase significantly. According to the American Dental Association, children in communities without fluoridated water are three times more likely to require dental surgery.
“We urge water system officials to restore fluoride levels to the recommended standard as swiftly as possible, once the supplies return to appropriate levels,” Doring said in a news release.
A few months’ drop in fluoride levels will likely not affect most people’s dental health, Scott Tomar, an American Dental Association community water fluoridation expert, told the Associated Press.
Residents at higher risk for tooth decay should ask their dentist or health care providers about alternative sources of fluoride.
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