Environmental Protection Agency

LAKELAND, Fla., Oct. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A recent federal court ruling has confirmed the current fluoride levels in U.S. drinking water, endorsed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), pose an unreasonable risk to children’s IQ. The ruling underscores the need for immediate regulatory action to ban water fluoridation, as it challenges decades of government promotion of fluoridated water as safe and beneficial according to The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT). In a landmark case, Fluoride Action Network and other health advocacy groups successfully argued that fluoride levels currently promoted as “optimal” by the EPA and other government agencies pose a significant threat to public health, particularly to the cognitive development of children. The United States District Court for the Northern District of California ruled that fluoridation at 0.7 mg/L — the level endorsed by the EPA — presents an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children. This finding is based on robust scientific evidence, including a review by the US Government’s National Toxicology Program, which identified a clear link between fluoride exposure and neurodevelopmental harm. The ruling did not outline the exact actions the EPA must take, but under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), once a court determines that a chemical presents an unreasonable risk, the EPA is legally required to mitigate or eliminate that risk. Judge Chen mentioned several regulatory options, including the possibility of banning it. However, he cautioned: “What the EPA cannot do, given this Court's finding, is ignore the risk.” Despite overwhelming evidence, the EPA and other regulatory bodies such as The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continue to ignore the risks, dismissing concerns raised by health professionals, researchers, and advocacy groups. For years, mothers and families have been told that fluoridated water is safe. The CDC even named community water fluoridation one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, without any acknowledgement of the known health risks of fluoride. However, this court decision confirms what IAOMT and other health-conscious organizations have long asserted: fluoridation is not a harmless practice and poses real dangers to the most vulnerable among us — our children. IAOMT Past President Griffin Cole, DMD stated, “This unprecedented ruling is a wake-up call for the EPA, CDC and other government agencies who have, for far too long, promoted fluoridation without adequately considering its harmful effects on developing brains. It is unconscionable that millions of pregnant women and children continue to be exposed to fluoride levels that an overwhelming number of scientific studies show are harmful.” Fluoride is not only present in drinking water but also in processed foods, dental products, and other daily sources. Aggregate exposure is far higher than what is considered safe for children and pregnant women, a fact that government agencies such as the EPA and CDC have continuously ignored. “It’s time for the EPA, CDC and other health authorities to stop ignoring the science and start protecting the health of future generations,” added current IAOMT President Yuko Torigoe, DMD. As an organization dedicated to biological dentistry and the science of safe dental practices, IAOMT will continue to advocate for fluoride-free water and raise awareness about the toxic effects of fluoride. The Academy also calls on local, state, and federal officials to end their support of fluoridation programs and ensure that public health policies reflect current scientific understanding by banning water fluoridation. For the sake of our children, it is crucial that we ban water fluoridation and prioritize health over outdated, and now proven harmful, practices. Contact: International Academy of Oral Medicine & Toxicology211 Kerneywood Street, Lakeland, FL 33803 Email: info@iaomt.org Telephone: (863) 420-6373 Fax: (863) 419-8136 A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/b1e738ba-37a7-4ad0-8f84-6e0e85421caa

FRIDAY, Sept. 20, 2024 -- Higher exposure to air pollution increases the risk for Parkinson disease (PD), according to a study published online Sept. 16 in JAMA Network Open . Brittany Krzyzanowski, Ph.D., from the Barrow Neurological Institute in Phoenix, and colleagues assessed whether air pollution is associated with an increased risk for PD and clinical characteristics of PD. The analysis included data from 346 patients with PD and 4,813 matched controls participating in the Rochester Epidemiology Project (1998 to 2015). The researchers found that greater exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of <2.5 μm (PM 2.5 ) was associated with increased PD risk, and this risk was greatest for populations within metropolitan cores (odds ratio [OR], 1.23) for the top quintile of PM 2.5 exposure versus the bottom quintile. An increased risk for PD was also seen with greater nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) exposure, when comparing the top quintile to the bottom quintile (OR, 1.13). Exposure to air pollution was associated with an increased risk for akinetic rigid presentation (OR per each 1-μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 , 1.36). Among individuals with PD only, higher PM 2.5 exposure was associated with a greater risk for developing dyskinesia (hazard ratio [HR] per 1-μg/m 3 increase in PM 2.5 , 1.42), as was increased NO 2 exposure (HR per 1-μg/m 3 increase in NO 2 , 1.13). "Importantly, in 2024, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reduced the annual PM 2.5 standard from 12 μg/m 3 to 9 μg/m 3 due to growing evidence of negative health effects at levels below the previously set standard," the authors write. "Our study not only supports the findings that led to this change, but suggests that the upper limit should be lowered to 8 μg/m 3 ." One author disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Abstract/Full Text Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

FRIDAY, Sept. 6, 2024 -- PFAS “forever chemicals” could cause pregnant women to experience long-term weight gain, increasing their risk of obesity in middle age, a new study warns. Women with higher levels of PFAS in their blood during early pregnancy weighed more at the age of 50 than those with low levels, researchers reported Sept. 5 in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism . These women also carried more body fat at age 50, potentially making them more susceptible to obesity and heart problems later in life, researchers found. “Our study supports the idea that pregnancy may be a sensitive period of PFAS exposure as it may be associated with long-term weight gain and subsequent adverse cardio-metabolic health outcomes in women,” said lead investigator Jordan Burdeau , a graduate research assistant with the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. “Our findings may improve understanding of the effects of PFAS on cardio-metabolic health during pregnancy, which in turn may improve early prevention or detection of adverse cardio-metabolic health outcomes in women,” Burdeau added in a journal news release. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) can be found in 99% of Americans, according to the Environmental Working Group. There are thousands of different PFAS chemicals, the Environmental Protection Agency says. They can be found in drinking water as well as a wide range of consumer products including paper fast food wrappers, Teflon cookware, stain-resistant furniture and clothing, and cosmetics and personal care products. They are called “forever chemicals” because PFAS doesn’t break down in the environment or in the human body. Instead, levels of the chemicals build up in the body over time. These chemicals are known to disrupt hormones in humans. Studies have previously linked PFAS to decreased fertility in women, developmental effects in children, reduced immune response and increased risk of some cancers, the EPA says. For this study, researchers studied nearly 550 pregnant women in their early 30s. They compared the women’s’ PFAS blood levels during pregnancy with their weight and heart health at age 50. The study’s results jibe with earlier research linking PFAS to higher cholesterol levels and obesity, according to the EPA. “It’s important to try to limit your PFAS exposure as it could reduce your risk of health issues later in life,” Burdeau said. Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.