Everything You Need to Know About Week 1 of the 2nd Phase of the #FluorideLawsuit
THE FIRST WEEK OF THE SECOND PHASE OF THE LONG-DELAYED FLUORIDE LAWSUIT IS OVER. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
On January 31st, the second phase of the fluoride lawsuit resumed in San Francisco, California after nearly four years of delays. The proceedings are the latest in an eight-year legal battle between the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Fluoride Action Network (FAN). The lawsuit began following the EPA’s 2016 decision to deny the plaintiff’s petition under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). The FAN is attempting to prove that fluoride is a neurotoxin and should be regulated or banned under the TSCA.
The hearings are scheduled for 9 days from January 31st to February 13th. The Last American Vagabond (TLAV) has been in the courtroom daily to report on the proceedings and interview the various witnesses testifying for the plaintiffs and the defense.
The Plaintiff's Opening Statement
During his opening statements, Fluoride Action Network lead attorney Michael Connett discussed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) standards for hazard assessment.
"The observed hazard is the first type of risk," Connett stated. "But the challenge of risk assessment is this type of risk is rare. When EPA decided to ban lead we didn't have observed risk in this area, despite there being harms."
Connett also stated that it is an "undisputed fact that fluoride passes into the placenta (during pregnancy) and into the fetal brain", noting that the blood-brain barrier is still developing and this period is considered to be a "critical window of development".
Connett told the court the EPA will present research which did not conclude fluoride is a neurotoxin. However, Connett stated, the researchers behind the studies are "long time promoters of water fluoridation". Connett zeroed in on one study in particular which will factor into the final days of the hearing, a study led by Dr. Jesus Ibarluzea titled Prenatal exposure to fluoride and neuropsychological development in early childhood.
This study found that fluoride actually increased IQ for boys by 15 points. Connett said these were "implausible findings" and hinted at the reasons the plaintiffs believe the...
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