EPA to appeal federal court ruling against fluoridated drinking water

By avagrace // 2025-01-23

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The EPA will appeal a federal court ruling that current fluoride levels in drinking water pose an "unreasonable risk" of lowering IQ in children, as declared by Judge Edward M. Chen.
The ruling has sparked debate, with public health agencies like the CDC defending fluoridation as a key public health achievement, despite the risks to children's development.
Chen’s decision was based on evidence linking higher fluoride exposure to lower IQ in children, prompting calls for regulatory action despite EPA claims of unclear risks at lower levels.
Environmental groups, including the Fluoride Action Network, criticized the EPA’s appeal, accusing the agency of delaying justice and failing to prioritize public health over outdated policies.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced it will appeal a federal court ruling declaring that current levels of fluoride in drinking water pose an "unreasonable risk" of reducing IQ in children. The ruling was handed down by United States Senior Judge for the District Court for the Northern District of California Edward M. Chen. When it was handed down, it ignited a firestorm of debate, pitting public health agencies against environmental advocates and raising urgent questions about the safety of a practice once hailed as a cornerstone of modern dentistry. Chen's ruling not only riled up the EPA but also the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Dental Association (ADA), all of which have long championed water fluoridation as one of the greatest public health achievements of the previous century. For decades, fluoride has been added to public water supplies supposedly as a means of preventing tooth decay, a practice endorsed by federal officials since the 1950s. But as scientific understanding of fluoride has evolved, so too have concerns about its potential risks – particularly to the children’s developing brains. (Related: Study: Higher fluoride levels in drinking water linked to lower IQ scores in children.) The judge's decision was based on mounting evidence that higher levels of fluoride exposure are linked to lower IQ in children. While the EPA argued that the risks at lower exposure levels remain unclear, Chen ruled that the agency could no longer ignore the potential danger. "There is substantial and scientifically credible evidence establishing that fluoride poses a risk to human health," he wrote, adding that the EPA must take regulatory action to address this risk. The EPA's decision to appeal has drawn sharp criticism from environmental groups like the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Rick North, a FAN board member, accused the agency of using legal maneuvers to delay justice. "Justice delayed is justice denied," he said, echoing Chen’s own words during the trial. North and others argue that the EPA has a moral obligation to protect public health, not to defend a decades-old policy that may no longer be safe.

The era of unquestioned water fluoridation is over

The controversy over fluoride is not just a scientific debate – it's a cultural and political one. For years, water fluoridation has been a symbol of progress, a low-cost intervention credited with dramatically reducing tooth decay, especially in low-income communities. But skeptics argue that the benefits of fluoridation have been overstated, particularly in an era when fluoride toothpaste and other dental products are widely available and have not been proven to provide any meaningful health benefits. They point to countries like those in Europe, where water fluoridation is rare yet cavity rates remain low, as evidence that the practice is unnecessary. The CDC continues to defend fluoridation as the "most cost-effective method" of delivering fluoride to all Americans, regardless of income or education level. The ADA, meanwhile, has called for an appeal, arguing that the benefits of fluoridation far outweigh the risks. Both organizations have staked their reputations on the practice, and a reversal could undermine public trust in their recommendations. Visit Flouride.news for more on how deadly fluoride intoxication is. Watch an interesting video on Where The Fluoride In Our Drinking Water Comes From. This video is from the Exposing The Agenda channel on Brighteon.com.

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The era of unquestioned water fluoridation is over

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