A landmark United States court ruling has determined that fluoride in drinking water—at levels currently recommended for cavity prevention (0.7 mg/L)—"poses an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children." This ruling stemmed from a citizen petition under the US Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate a regulatory response. As the first successful challenge of this kind, the decision sets a significant precedent for how scientific evidence is evaluated in regulatory decision-making. While this is a US ruling, it raises broader questions about fluoridation practices worldwide, chemical risk assessment methods, and the balance between established dental health benefits and potential neurodevelopmental risks.
You can read an article from E&E News on the ruling here.
You can read an article from E&E News on the ruling here.