EPA had not adequately addressed the potential risks posed by fluoride in public drinking water.

In the ICAN lawsuit against the EPA, the court ruled that the EPA had not adequately addressed the potential risks posed by fluoride in public drinking water. As a result, the EPA is now required to revisit its scientific evaluation of fluoride's safety, particularly in light of studies linking it to cognitive issues such as lower IQ and neurodevelopmental harm in children. The court directed the EPA to conduct a more thorough review, considering new evidence and reevaluating fluoride’s potential classification as a neurotoxin. This decision compels the agency to remedy its prior dismissal of the risks by taking a fresh, science-based approach to its fluoride policy. The outcome could potentially lead to changes in national water fluoridation standards if the EPA acknowledges the health risks posed.