The Great Lakes provide fresh drinking water to more than 30 million people, power a multi-billion-dollar shipping industry, and create habitats for millions of fish, birds, and other wildlife.

But the health of the Great Lakes depends on continued monitoring by a variety of federal, state and local agencies. These scientists and researchers track invasive species, collect data that helps stave off harmful algal blooms, and coordinate with local water and sewer districts to make sure our lakes stay as clean as possible.

Experts say recent federal funding cuts to one prominent lab that monitors the Great Lakes, the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory, may be putting the health of the lakes in danger.

We will begin Wednesday's "Sound of Ideas" with a discussion on the topic of Great Lakes water quality and the potential impact for those who rely on the lakes for their daily needs.

Later, putting fluoride in public drinking water has been called one of the 10 great public health interventions of the 20th century according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention due to the large reduction in cavities since the practice began in 1945.

But U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said last month that he plans to tell the CDC to stop this recommendation nationwide, and has called fluoride a "dangerous neurotoxin" that he claims is linked to several health problems. Dental experts and public health advocates have pushed back on these claims, and continue to advocate for the practice.

But two states have just banned the practice in community drinking water -- Utah and Florida, and a proposed Ohio House Bill would do the same. Republican State Representative Levi Dean said it should be up to individuals whether they want to ingest fluoride or not.

On today's show, we're going to learn more about fluoride, and why public health experts are pushing back against these bans.

Finally, we'll learn about a new exhibit that features work from famed artist, Salvador Dali.

Guests:
-Anna Clark, Reporter, ProPublica
-Erin Huber Rosen, Founder, Executive Director, Drink Local Drink Tap
-Prakash Ganesh, MD, MPH, Medical Director, Cuyahoga County Board of Health
-Suparna Argekar Mahalaha, DDS, MPH, Assistant Professor, Department of Community Dentistry & Director, Geriatric Dental Program, Case Western Reserve University
-Kabir Bhatia, Sr. Reporter, Arts and Culture, Ideastream Public Media