Buffalo attorney pushes back against fluoride returning to city's water

Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN/AP) - A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children.

In the ruling, the judge said it’s not certain that the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing lower IQ in kids, but mounting research points to a risk that it could be.

The ruling comes as the Cy of Buffalo is reintroducing fluoride into the water supply, however, some people are demanding for it to be taken out again.

Buffalo Attorney James Ostrowski believes fluoride poses too much of a risk for human consumption and says it can not only cause thyroid problems, but it can also affect a child's intelligence.

"There's many studies that show fluoride causes a reduction in IQ in children. I know that's a scary point, and I'm scared about it too," Ostrowski stated in an interview with WBEN. "There's some quibbling about how much, but my God, if something is going to cause a reduction in IQ in children, that should be serious concern to people, particularly pregnant women."

Last month, a federal agency determined “with moderate confidence” that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids.

The EPA argued that it wasn’t clear what impact fluoride exposure might have at the lower levels found in drinking water, but the agency is required to make sure there is a margin between the hazard level and exposure level.

Ostrowski says fluoride should have never been added to the water supply as it is unethical to give medication to patients without their consent.

"Before you medicate, I don't know, 300,000 people, you need informed consent. You need to explain to the patient what all the risks are," Ostrowski stated. "That has not been done."

Dean of UB's School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Marcelo Araujo says there's no evidence to suggest fluoride poses any risk to the public, and is happy that Buffalo is adding it to the water supply again.

"As a dentist and also epidemiologist, I followed this type of literature for many years. It has not been shown to have any effect of thyroid or IQ. In this case, we have no evidence," Araujo stated in an interview with WBEN. "We actually have a lot more evidence to show the preventive power fluoride and the benefits that this compound has for people's health."

Araujo also says that while it is true that consent is needed to administer medication, fluoride isn't actually medicine.

"Fluoride is actually not approved by the FDA as a medication. Fluoride is actually approved as a component to prevent a condition, which is tooth decay in this case," Araujo stated.