Multiple U.S. towns and counties suspended the fluoridation of their water supply after a landmark court decision ruled that water fluoridation at current U.S. levels presents an “unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment, without consideration of costs or other non-risk factors, including an unreasonable risk to a potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulation under the conditions of use.” “Abilene, Texas; Yorktown and Somers, New York; and the Weber Basin Water Conservancy District in Utah are among those cities and districts that responded quickly to the Sept. 24 ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen,” The Defender reports. Some Cities Hit Pause on Water Fluoridation in Wake of Historic Federal Ruling "Stopping fluoridation is a simple thing to do, and it is just as easy to start it up again if the council chooses to do so.” — Robert Hanna, Abilene City Manager https://t.co/RSXPiA2JVV — Children’s Health Defense (@ChildrensHD) October 2, 2024 Several cities & counties have removed fluoride after the recent ruling that fluoridation reduces IQ, including: -Abilene (TX)-Yorktown (NY)-Somers (NY)-Sebring (FL)-Davis County (UT)-Wichita Falls (Reevaluating) Let's hope more follow suit and stop fluoridating water! — Jason Bassler (@JasonBassler1) October 2, 2024 The Defender reports: The ruling stemmed from a lawsuit filed in 2017 by Fluoride Action Network, Moms Against Fluoridation, Food & Water Watch and individual parents and children. It followed the publication of a key report by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program. Rick North, board member of the Fluoride Action Network, told The Defender he expects more cities and towns to announce they will end the practice of fluoridation. “Fluoridation is a house of cards and it’s going to fall,” North said. “It’s only a matter of when. Our job is to make the wind blow.” The EPA, which can appeal the federal court’s ruling, previously told The Defender it is reviewing the decision and has no comment at this time. Abilene City Manager Robert Hanna told The Defender the decision to suspend fluoridation of the city’s water supply is temporary. “The manager intends to ask the city council whether or not the city should temporarily suspend fluoridation until the EPA makes new regulatory decisions as required by the court, or continue fluoridation until EPA does the same,” Hanna said, according to the outlet. “While we believe the possibility is remote, the EPA could ban the fluoridation of drinking water. It seems prudent to at least ask the elected officials what they want to do. Stopping fluoridation is a simple thing to do, and it is just as easy to start it up again if the council chooses to do so,” Hanna continued. Fluoride Fallout: Municipalities Pausing Fluoridation of Water After US District Court Ruling https://t.co/f4a12MtiUs — TrialSite News (@TrialsiteN) October 2, 2024 Per TrialSite News: In New York state, Patch.com reports that municipalities Yorktown and Somers have both suspended water fluoridation. Per this outlet, Yorktown Supervisor Ed Lachterman ordered that water fluoridation be suspended, citing the federal court ruling. And while the court’s ruling noted that it is not certain that the 0.7ppm level is lowering IQs, he did rule that growing bodies of evidence show an unreasonable risk that it may be. As Patch notes, the judge “ordered the EPA to take steps to lower that risk, but did not specify what those measures should be.” Since the court ruling stressed the risks to vulnerable groups, such as children, Lachterman notes this led him to “take immediate action—In light of this federal ruling and the long-standing concerns expressed by many Yorktown residents, I have decided to suspend water fluoridation as a precautionary measure—Our priority is the safety and well-being of our community, and we believe it is prudent to pause fluoridation to further assess its potential impacts.” This action also means that Somers, New York will get unfluoridated water for the time being. “Removing fluoride from Somers’ drinking water would give residents the freedom to choose their own sources of fluoride, ensuring personal control over their health decisions,” said Somers Supervisor Robert Scorrano. “Additionally, concerns about potential long-term health risks from fluoride exposure support reevaluating its use in public water systems. Somers applauds Yorktown for making this decision.” The Northern Westchester Joint Water Works had just reinstituted fluoridation last summer after a seven-year pause.