A long-awaited National Toxicology Program (NTP) report concluded that higher levels of fluoride exposure are associated with lower IQ in children. The findings mark the first time a federal agency has acknowledged that fluoride can impact children’s brain health.
Water fluoridation is considered one of the most successful public health initiatives in the United States for strengthening teeth and preventing dental cavities. Currently, the U.S. Public Health Service recommends that community drinking water sources contain 0.7 milligrams of fluoride per liter of water to prevent cavities.
The World Health Organization (WHO) says the safe limit of fluoride in drinking water is 1.5 milligrams per liter.
However, adding fluoride to drinking water has been the subject of intense debate and an ongoing fluoride court case against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The concerns center around evidence that suggests fluoride may negatively impact children’s IQ scores.
Now, a new highly anticipated and potentially controversial government report has concluded with moderate confidence that exposure to higher fluoride levels, such as consuming water with more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter, is associated with lower IQ in children.
Fluoride’s impact on IQ
In the report, released on August 21, the National Toxicology Program (NTP), part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, detailed the findings of its eight-year review of research looking into the potential links between fluoride exposure and neurodevelopment and cognition in children.
The lengthy evaluation included a systematic review of peer-reviewed epidemiology studies conducted in locations outside the United States, such as Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico.
In these regions, some pregnant women and children are exposed to fluoride at levels higher than the limit set by WHO.
NTP investigators evaluated the health effects of total fluoride exposure from all sources, not just fluoridated drinking water.
The results showed that out of 72 studies assessing the impact of fluoride on children’s IQ, 64 found links between fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids.
Moreover, 18 of the 19 high-quality studies evaluated provided consistent evidence of an association between fluoride exposure and lower IQ scores.
The NPT investigators also found that the results from 53 lower-quality studies provided evidence supporting the findings from the 19 high-quality studies. They note that 46 of the 53 papers reported an association between fluoride exposure and lower IQ scores in children.
Still, the review of research did not examine fluoride risks for adults. Nor did it identify the exact number of IQ points lost due to fluoride exposure.
Although studies were limited, the analysis also revealed that eight out of nine high-quality research papers found links between fluoride exposure and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Can low fluoride levels impact IQ?
It’s important to note that evidence linking exposure to lower fluoride levels to IQ was less certain. The NTP said its conclusions are based primarily on studies that examined fluoride levels higher than what Americans are exposed to via fluoridated drinking water.
However, they note that nearly 2 million people in the U.S. drink water from sources with naturally occurring fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams or higher.
In addition, fluoride exposure can come from sources other than drinking water, such as toothpaste, mouthwash, and certain foods. In addition, children living in homes with non-fluoridated water sources are often prescribed fluoride supplements to ensure adequate levels.
In a statement, Stuart Cooper, Director of the Fluoride Action Network (FAN), said, “This is a historic day for those who have warned about fluoridation’s obvious risks for more than 75 years. This report, along with the large body of published science, makes it abundantly clear that the question isn’t whether fluoridation is safe, but instead how many children have been needlessly harmed.”
Previously, the American Dental Association (ADA), which supports water fluoridation, urged the NTP to base its conclusions on scientific evidence before “making any presumptive hazard statements in a forthcoming research report about fluoride and neurocognitive development.”
Healthnews reached out to the ADA for comment and is awaiting a response.
Original article online at: https://healthnews.com/news/fluoride-lower-iq-children/