Bullish ruling on fluoride, judge says US drinking water poses ‘danger’ to children’s brains
Fluoride in American drinking water poses an “unreasonable risk” to children’s brains, a federal judge has ruled, asking the government to intervene.
San Francisco District Judge Edward Chen has called on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to more strictly regulate fluoride in tap water amid mounting evidence that it lowers the IQs of minors.
He did not say what actions would be taken, but an EPA spokesperson told DailyMail.com they were now reviewing the decision.
Chen said in his ruling: ‘The scientific literature in the file provides a high degree of certainty that there is a danger; fluoride is associated with lowered IQ.’
The issue of fluoride in tap water is controversial because its introduction is considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the 20th century due to its effectiveness in reducing tooth decay in children.
The map above shows estimated fluoride concentrations in community water systems between 2006 and 2011. It was published in 2023. Counties colored red have more than double the recommended fluoride level in their water
The court did not conclude with certainty that fluoride is harmful to children’s brains, but said it posed an “unreasonable risk” that the EPA should investigate.
More than 200 million Americans drink water that contains fluoride. That’s 75 percent of the population. That’s more than any other country in the world.
The mineral was added in the 1970s after research showed it could prevent cavities. The CDC now estimates it saves $6.5 billion in dental costs each year.
But a groundbreaking government report released last month also warned that the mineral in high concentrations could harm children’s IQs.
According to the report, this could happen if fluoride levels rise above 1.5 mg/L. Hundreds of thousands of American children in areas including Texas, Illinois and New Mexico are likely exposed to these levels.
The results showed that the highest levels were associated with a five-point drop.
The ruling was made Tuesday by the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.
Michael Connett, the attorney for the advocacy groups that asked the courts to review the new fluoride report, said in a statement Wednesday: “The court’s historic ruling should pave the way for better and safer fluoride standards for everyone.”
A spokesperson for the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) added: “History has been made.
‘After seven years of legal action against the EPA over the risks the practice of water fluoridation poses to brain development, [court] has just ruled on behalf of FAN and the plaintiffs in a precedent-setting lawsuit.’
According to the EPA, fluoride levels should not exceed 4 mg/L to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a potentially crippling condition that leads to weaker bones.
But in 2006, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine, the federal government’s main scientific advisory body, advised the EPA to lower the limit to protect children.
There has been controversy over fluoride in drinking water supplies for years, with hundreds of communities voting against its use (above is a campaign sign from Kennebunk, Maine)
The above photo from the lawsuit shows Michael Connett, the attorney for the advocacy group
According to the World Health Organization, the safe limit is around 1.5 mg/L.
The government report, released last month, found that fluoride levels above 1.5 mg/L can be harmful to children’s IQ.
For comparison, in the US, drinking water in most places is currently fluoridated at about 0.7 mg/L.
This is well above the safe limit for pregnant women of about 0.4 mg/L, as some studies suggest. Bottled water often does not contain fluoride.
The lawsuit was filed by Food and Water Watch and FAN, among others, after the EPA denied a petition to ban the 75-year-old practice of adding fluoride to drinking water to prevent cavities.
Dentists, water companies and lawyers specializing in chemical policy are among the groups closely following the case.
