A CAMPAIGN group has challenged fluoridating Cumbria's water after a US court ruling found that it posed 'an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children' above 0.7 milligrams per litre (mg/L). 

Fluoride Free Cumbria asked if the county's MPs and Cumberland Council would 'work to protect our children's health' after the ruling. The Government argues that water fluoridation tackles tooth decay among children. 

Food and Water Watch Incorporated brought a case against the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which was determined by Edward M Chen, a district judge in California on September 24. 

The ruling found the plaintiffs had proved that water fluoridation at a level of 0.7mg/L the prescribed optimal level of fluoridation in the United States, posed an unreasonable risk of reduced IQ in children. 

The finding does not conclude that fluoridated water is injurious to public health, but the risk is sufficient enough to require the EPA to engage with a regulatory response. 

The group claimed that fluoride levels in Cumbria's water were twice the US's. A spokesperson from Cumberland Council said that while the regulated maximum dose is 1.5mg/L, local levels have a target of 1mg/L and in the last 12 months the supply from Crummock has averaged under 0.665mg/L with a maximum of 0.980mg/L. 

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Powers for the fluoridation of water supplies used to be administered at local government level but this has been taken back by the Secretary of State for Health. The body instructs the water company United Utilities how much to put into the supply.

A Department of Health spokesperson said: "Tooth decay remains a serious public health problem, particularly for young children, with significant inequalities across the county.

“Water fluoridation is a safe and effective public health measure that reduces tooth decay.

“Prevention is always better than cure, and this approach is fundamental to us building an NHS dental sector that is fit for the future.”

A monitoring report found that 5-year-olds in the most deprived 20 per cent of areas have their odds of experiencing tooth decay reduced by a quarter if a fluoridation scheme is in place.