A recent government report has drawn a connection between high fluoride levels in drinking water and decreased IQ in children.
This groundbreaking report, which is the first of its kind to be released by a federal agency, suggests a potential neurological risk from excessive fluoride exposure. The report, however, does not exclusively focus on the health effects of fluoride in drinking water.
Fluoride is known for its role in strengthening teeth and reducing cavities by replenishing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, as stated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The introduction of small amounts of fluoride to drinking water has been hailed as one of the most significant public health achievements of the previous century.
Ashley Malin, a researcher at the University of Florida who has investigated the impact of higher fluoride levels in pregnant women on their offspring, believes this report is crucial to our understanding of this risk. According to The Independent, she described it as the most rigorously conducted report of its kind.
The National Toxicology Program, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services, released the long-awaited report. It summarizes a review of studies conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico, concluding that drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is consistently associated with lower IQs in children.
The report does not attempt to quantify the exact number of IQ points that might be lost at different levels of fluoride exposure. However, some studies reviewed in the report suggested that children exposed to higher levels of fluoride had IQs that were 2 to 5 points lower.
For the past five decades, federal health officials have recommended a fluoridation level of 0.7 milligrams per liter of water, down from the previous upper range of 1.2. The World Health Organization has set a safe limit for fluoride in drinking water at 1.5.
The report indicates that approximately 0.6% of the U.S. population, or about 1.9 million people, are on water systems with naturally occurring fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams or higher. Malin raises questions about how these individuals can be protected and what the most sensible course of action would be.
The comprehensive 324-page report did not reach a conclusion about the risks of lower levels of fluoride, stating that more research is needed. It also did not address what high levels of fluoride might do to adults.
The American Dental Association, a strong advocate for water fluoridation, had previously criticized earlier versions of the new analysis and Malins research. When asked for a comment, a spokeswoman stated that the organizations experts were still reviewing the report.
Fluoride is a mineral that naturally occurs in water and soil. About 80 years ago, scientists discovered that people whose water supplies naturally contained more fluoride also had fewer cavities. This led to a push to get more Americans to use fluoride for better dental health.
In 1945, Grand Rapids, Michigan became the first U.S. city to start adding fluoride to tap water. In 1950, federal officials endorsed water fluoridation to prevent tooth decay, and continued to promote it even after fluoride toothpaste brands hit the market several years later. Although fluoride can come from a number of sources, drinking water is the main source for Americans, researchers say.
In 2015, officials lowered their recommendation for drinking water fluoride levels to address a tooth condition called fluorosis, which can cause splotches on teeth and was becoming more common in U.S. children.
The Environmental Protection Agency has maintained a longstanding requirement that water systems cannot have more than 4 milligrams of fluoride per liter. This standard is designed to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a potentially crippling disorder which causes weaker bones, stiffness, and pain.
However, an increasing number of studies have suggested a link between higher levels of fluoride and brain development. Researchers have questioned the impact on developing fetuses and very young children who might ingest water with baby formula. Animal studies have shown that fluoride can impact neurochemistry cell function in brain regions responsible for learning, memory, executive function, and behavior.
In 2006, the National Research Council, a private nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C., said limited evidence from China pointed to neurological effects in people exposed to high levels of fluoride. It called for more research into the effect of fluoride on intelligence.
After more research continued to raise questions, the National Toxicology Program in 2016 started working on a review of the available studies that could provide guidance on whether new fluoride-limiting measures were needed.
There were earlier drafts, but the final document has repeatedly been held up. At one point, a committee of experts said available research did not support an earlier draft's conclusions.
Rick Woychik, director of the National Toxicology Program, stated that since fluoride is such an important topic to the public and to public health officials, it was imperative that every effort was made to get the science right.
Malin suggested that it might be prudent for pregnant women to lower their fluoride intake, not only from water but also from certain types of tea. She also suggested that it might be worthwhile to discuss whether to require fluoride-content on beverage labels.
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