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Brazilian court denies request to suspend water fluoridation
A federal court in the Distrito Federal has denied a request by the Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Saneamento (Abcon) to temporarily suspend the addition of fluoride to the public water supply. The measure, which is mandated by federal law to prevent dental cavities, remains in place pending further technical analysis and input from the federal government.
Abcon reports a critical shortage of fluosilicic acid, a necessary component for water fluoridation. The scarcity is attributed to rising sulfur prices driven by Middle East conflicts and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, affecting suppliers like the American company Mosaic. The association claims that market prices for the input have increased by over 300% and that they have received no response from the Ministry of Health regarding the supply crisis since June.
While the water remains safe for consumption without fluoride, researchers from the Rede Vigifluor have issued an open letter urging authorities to address the geopolitical challenges threatening the sanitary protection of approximately 70% of the Brazilian population.
Entities
14ª Vara Federal Cível da Seção Judiciária do Distrito Federal · Abcon · Associação Brasileira das Empresas de Saneamento · Distrito Federal · Ministry of Health · Ministério da Saúde · Rede Brasileira de Vigilância da Fluoretação da Água de Abastecimento Público · Rede Vigifluor · mosaic
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Federal Law 6.050 of 1974 mandates the addition of fluoride to distributed water to prevent cavities. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · imprensapublica.com.br · jornaldebrasilia.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Spot market prices for the necessary chemical input have increased by over 300%. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] The 14th Federal Civil Court of the Distrito Federal denied a request to suspend fluoride addition to public water supplies. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · imprensapublica.com.br · jornaldebrasilia.com.br
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A group of 25 researchers from Rede Vigifluor called for the Public Prosecutor's Office to intervene to protect public health. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Ministry of Health has not responded to five inquiries from Abcon since June. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · imprensapublica.com.br · jornaldebrasilia.com.br
- [● 3 SOURCES] Abcon reports a shortage of fluosilicic acid in the Brazilian market. www.brasilemfolhas.com.br · imprensapublica.com.br · jornaldebrasilia.com.br