### Judge Orders EPA to Intensify Fluoride Regulations in Drinking Water

NEW YORK (AP) - A federal judge has mandated that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforce stricter regulations on fluoride levels in drinking water due to concerns about potential risks to children's intellectual growth. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen acknowledged that while there is no definite proof that the fluoride amounts typically present in water are causing lower IQs, existing research suggests there is an unreasonable risk. As a result, Judge Chen has directed the EPA to take action to mitigate this risk, without specifying what those measures should be.

This unprecedented ruling marks the first instance of a federal judge addressing the neurodevelopmental impacts of the fluoride levels recommended for U.S. water. Ashley Malin, a University of Florida researcher, described the ruling as "the most historic in the U.S. fluoridation debate we’ve ever seen." Historically, the practice of water fluoridation has been praised for its role in preventing tooth decay, with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) citing its benefits in strengthening teeth.

The ruling comes after a recent federal agency report, which found "with moderate confidence" a link between higher fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children. This report was based on research involving fluoride levels about double the recommended limit for drinking water. The EPA, which was defending itself in this lawsuit, argued that the effects of lower fluoride levels remain unclear. However, Judge Chen's 80-page ruling emphasized that the risk at current exposure levels is significant enough to warrant regulatory action under federal law.

The EPA has been reviewing Judge Chen's decision, according to agency spokesperson Jeff Landis, who provided no further comments. Historically, the U.S. endorsed water fluoridation in 1950 to combat tooth decay, a stance maintained even after the advent of fluoride toothpaste. Researchers state that the main fluoride source for Americans is drinking water, with nearly two-thirds of the population receiving fluoridated water.

The recommended fluoridation level set by federal health officials since 2015 has been 0.7 milligrams per liter of water, reduced from an upper range of 1.2 milligrams per liter observed for five decades. The World Health Organization has recommended a fluoride limit of 1.5 milligrams per liter in drinking water. Additionally, the EPA mandates that water systems should not exceed 4 milligrams per liter to prevent skeletal fluorosis.

In the past 20 years, studies have started to raise concerns about fluoride's effect on brain development. Research has indicated possible impacts on the neurochemistry and cell function in brain areas linked to learning, memory, executive function, and behavior, with significant implications for developing fetuses and young children consuming water mixed with baby formula.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco in 2017, was led by the environmental advocacy group Food & Water Watch. Proceedings were paused in 2020 pending the National Toxicology Program report, but resumed earlier this year. Michael Connett, the lead attorney for the plaintiffs, argued that the only way to completely eliminate the risk is to stop adding fluoride to drinking water.