A recently released study links exposure to high levels of fluoride to lower IQ in children raising concerns about fluoride in drinking water.

Between that study from the National Institutes of Health and concerns raised by Robert F. Kennedy Junior, the addition of fluoride to drinking water is being looked at with a more critical eye.

Pediatric Dentist Drew Carlin sees the impact of tooth decay day in, day out. He said fluoride in drinking water is a safe and effective way to reduce cavities in children by 25%.

“Kids with untreated tooth decay get worse grades, they go to the operating room and the hospital more often. There’s about 2 million ER visits a year with American patients going in for tooth pain,” Dr. Carlin said.

But the safety of fluoride is again being called into question. Robert F. Kennedy Junior, President-Elect Trump’s pick to head the Department of Health and Human Services, has stated that the Whitehouse will advise all U.S. water systems to remove fluoride from public water.

And a recently released study from the National Institutes of Health links exposure to high levels of fluoride to lower IQ in children.

“Yes, there’s fluoride in Erie’s water,” said Craig Palmer, CEO of Erie Water Works.

Erie Water Works has been adding fluoride to residents’ drinking water since 2002.

Fluoride is added to Erie’s water in this building at .56 parts per million, the low end of the federally recommended level.

According to Palmer, the recommended range is between point 5 and 1.2. The recent study showing a negative correlation between fluoride and IQ looked at the impact of 1.5 milligrams per liter, nearly three times that in Erie’s water.

“That study admittedly wasn’t very strong with data or certainty at the levels added by public water. And we’re well below the levels where they’ve linked any sort of relationship,” Palmer went on to say.

Palmer said any change would be initiated by the federal Environmental Protection Agency before being implemented at the state level. In the meantime, he said Erie Water Works will stay the course.

Original article online at: https://www.yourerie.com/news/local-news/concerns-grow-about-fluoride-in-water-how-much-is-in-eries/