A federal judge has ordered the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to strengthen regulations on fluoride in drinking water due to potential risks to children's brain development. US District Judge Edward Chen’s ruling highlights growing research suggesting fluoride could pose a neurodevelopmental threat. Chen’s decision follows a National Toxicology Program report that linked higher fluoride exposure to reduced IQ. Fluoride has long been added to US water to prevent tooth decay, a practice the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls one of the greatest public health achievements. However, recent studies have raised concerns about its potential impact on developing brains, particularly in pregnant women and young children. The judge stopped short of specifying what actions the EPA should take but emphasized that current exposure levels in US drinking water warrant a regulatory response. Environmental advocates argue that the only way to eliminate the risk is to stop adding fluoride to water altogether.