Abstract

The authors conducted a systematic review on published studies to date to investigate the effect of fluoride exposure on children’s intelligence quotient (IQ) scores. PSYCHINFO, Web of Science, MEDLINE, SCI, and the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) search engines were employed for all documents published up to 2012, in English and in Chinese. In total, 38 studies of fluoride exposure and children’s scores on IQ tests were included in this review. The weighted mean effect size (WMES) on children’s IQ scores between higher and lower regions of fluoride exposure was – .46 (CI 95% – .57 to – .35; p< .001) equivalent to 6.9 IQ points. Sensitivity analyses showed that after excluding studies that had other elements contaminations, the adverse effects of fluoride exposure on children’s intelligence remained to be significant. Further, six of the studies reported significant negative correlations between fluoride in the body and intelligence. The evidence suggests that fluoride in drinking water is a serious public health hazard.

• Related Studies :

  • Using drawing tests to measure intelligence in children from areas impacted by combined Al-F endemic toxicosis (Shuicheng, Guizhou).

    Measurements of intelligence via drawing tests have been conducted to examine the intelligence development of children from regions affected by combined AIF endemic toxicosis. A selected number of 196 children between 6.5 and 12 years of age participated in the testing. Across all age groups, the average IQ level of children from

  • Is Fluoride Potentially Neurotoxic?

    An Editorial by David C. Bellinger, PhD, MSc Environmental epidemiology is a field replete with controversies, but the intensity of the debate inspired by the fluoridation of municipal water supplies to reduce dental caries is perhaps unrivaled. Governments, as well as individuals, differ in their assessments of water fluoridation as public policy.

  • Developmental neurotoxicity of fluoride: a quantitative risk analysis toward establishing a safe daily dose of fluoride for children

    Background: A recent 2015 study from New Zealand indicated water fluoridation did not have an effect on children’s IQs. A 2012 meta-analysis showed that children with higher fluoride exposure have lower IQs than similar children with lower exposures. Levels of the fluoride ion (F) in blood and urine in children

  • Association Between Water Fluoride and the Level of Children's Intelligence: A Dose-Response Meta-Analysis.

    Highlights High fluoride content in drinking water could affect the intellectual development of children. High water fluoride exposure is significantly associated with a reduced level of intelligence. Water quality and water fluoride exposure should be improved in areas with high water fluoride content. Objectives Higher fluoride concentrations in water have inconsistently

  • In utero exposure to fluoride and cognitive development delay in infants

    Highlights Enrolled 65 mother-baby pairs in an endemic hydrofluorosis area in Mexico. Pregnant women from endemic hydrofluorosis areas had high levels of fluoride in urine. Maternal exposure to Fluoride was negatively associated with cognitive functions in infants. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between in utero

• Related FAN Content :

  • Fluoride & IQ: 69 Studies

    As of June 2021, a total of 77 studies have investigated the relationship between fluoride and human intelligence. Of these investigations, 69 studies have found that elevated fluoride exposure is associated with reduced IQ in humans, while over 60 animal studies have found that fluoride exposure impairs the learning and/or

  • Fluoride Affects Learning & Memory in Animals

    An association between elevated fluoride exposure and reduced intelligence has now been observed in 65 IQ studies. Although a link between fluoride and intelligence might initially seem surprising or random, it is actually consistent with a large body of animal research. This animal research includes the following 45 studies (out

  • Fluoride's Effect on Fetal Brain

    The human placenta does not prevent the passage of fluoride from a pregnant mother's bloodstream to the fetus. As a result, a fetus can be harmed by fluoride ingested pregnancy. Based on research from China, the fetal brain is one of the organs susceptible to fluoride poisoning. As highlighted by the excerpts

  • NRC (2006): Fluoride's Neurotoxicity and Neurobehavioral Effects

    The NRC's analysis on fluoride and the brain.

  • Fluoride: Developmental Neurotoxicity.

    Developmental Neurotoxicity There has been a tremendous amount of research done on the association of exposure to fluoride with developmental neurotoxicity. There are over 60 studies reporting reduced IQ in children and several on the impaired learning/memory in animals. And there are studies which link fluoride to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Teaching