A coalition of 13 groups is pushing for the Environmental Protection Agency to appeal a court ruling that forces the organization to further regulate water fluoridation, according to a Jan. 14 news release from the American Dental Association.
Here are six things to know:
1. In September, a federal judge ruled that the EPA must address the impact of fluoride in drinking water.
2. The ruling ordered the agency to "engage with a regulatory response."
3. The court's ruling was based largely on an August report from the National Toxicology Program that linked high fluoride levels to lower IQ in children.
4. Many organizations, including the ADA, have identified potential issues with the report, including insufficient sample sizes.
5. A letter from the coalition claims that the ruling has wide implications on the EPA's ability to regulate substances under the Toxic Substances Control Act.
6. The ADA has reaffirmed its support and commitment to the benefits of water fluoridation on dental health in the wake of the ruling.