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EPA should address fluoridated water's danger to children's IQs, US judge guidelines

A federal judge in California has ordered the U.S. Epa to enhance policies for fluoride in drinking water, saying the compound presents an unreasonable prospective threat to kids at levels that are currently normal nationwide.

U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco on Tuesday sided with numerous advocacy groups, finding the present practice of adding fluoride to drinking water materials to fight cavities provided unreasonable dangers for children's establishing brains.

Chen said the advocacy groups had actually established during a. non-jury trial that fluoride postured an unreasonable threat of damage. adequate to need a regulatory reaction by the EPA under the. Poisonous Substances Control Act.

The scientific literature in the record offers a high. level of certainty that a risk is present; fluoride is. associated with reduced IQ, wrote Chen, an appointee of. Democratic former President Barack Obama.

However the judge stressed he was not concluding with certainty. that fluoridated water endangered public health.

The ruling was hailed by the ecological group Food &&. Water Watch, which led a union of organizations that sued. the EPA in 2017. The company had rejected their so-called citizen's. petition asking it to think about prohibiting fluoridation chemicals. from public drinking water.

The court's historical choice should assist pave the way. towards better and more secure fluoride requirements for all, Michael. Connett, a legal representative for the advocacy groups, said in a statement. on Wednesday.

The EPA stated it was reviewing the choice.

Water in the U.S. has actually been fluoridated considering that 1945, though. the suggested levels have actually given that been reduced to address the. prospective for tooth damage and other threats.

More than 200 million Americans, or about 75% of the. population, currently have fluoride contributed to their drinking. water at advised levels of 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per. liter of water.

Communities add fluoride to water on a voluntary basis. Medical professionals and dental experts recommend it since it can help safeguard. children's teeth that have actually not yet broken through the gums. The U.S. practice differs from Europe, where fluoridated. drinking water is unusual.

(source: Reuters)