What is it good intentions pave the way to?
A U.S. government report that will likely incite serious debate has concluded that fluoride over double the recommended limit in drinking water is linked to lower IQ in children.
The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, has concluded with “moderate confidence” that higher levels of fluoride exposure are linked to lower IQ in children. The report acknowledges a potential neurological risk from high fluoride levels even though it wasn’t explicitly intended to assess the health effects of fluoride in drinking water alone.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, fluoride, a mineral that occurs naturally in water and soil, strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost over time. Scientists found that people with higher natural fluoride in their water had fewer cavities, leading to a push for more Americans to use fluoride for better dental health. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
Ashley Malin, a University of Florida researcher who has studied the effect of higher fluoride levels in pregnant women on their children, said,
“I think this (report) is crucial in our understanding” of this risk.” She proclaimed it to be the most rigorously conducted report of its kind.
The much-anticipated report from the National Toxicology Program, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, summarizes a review of studies conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico. The report concludes that drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is consistently associated with lower IQs in kids.
The report didn’t attempt to specify the exact number of IQ points that might be lost at various levels of fluoride exposure. However, some studies reviewed in the report indicated that IQ was 2 to 5 points lower in children with higher exposures.
In 2015, federal health officials lowered the recommended fluoridation level in water to 0.7 milligrams per liter from the previous 1.2 milligrams per liter. The World Health Organization considers 1.5 milligrams per liter as the safe limit for fluoride in drinking water. A report shows that around 0.6% of the U.S. population, approximately 1.9 million people, are served by water systems with naturally occurring fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams per liter or higher.
The Environmental Protection Agency has a long-standing requirement that water systems contain no more than 4 milligrams of fluoride per liter. This standard aims to prevent skeletal fluorosis, a disorder that can cause weaker bones, stiffness, and pain.
Malin said that the report raises questions about how to protect people and what makes the most sense. The 324-page report didn’t reach a definitive conclusion about the risks of lower levels of fluoride, stating that more study is needed. It also did not address what high fluoride levels might do to adults.
The American Dental Association, which supports water fluoridation, criticized earlier versions of the new analysis and Malin’s research. A spokeswoman stated that the organization’s experts were still reviewing the report.
A growing body of research indicates a potential link between elevated fluoride levels and brain development. Researchers are particularly concerned about the effects on developing fetuses and young children who consume water mixed with baby formula. Animal studies have shown that fluoride may affect neurochemistry and cell function in brain areas associated with learning, memory, executive function, and behavior.
In 2006, the National Research Council found limited evidence from China suggesting neurological effects in people exposed to high fluoride levels, prompting a call for more research.
Subsequent research prompted the National Toxicology Program to begin reviewing existing studies in 2016 to determine whether new fluoride-limiting measures were necessary.
“Since fluoride is such an important topic to the public and to public health officials, it was imperative that we made every effort to get the science right,” said Rick Woychik, director of the National Toxicology Program, in a statement.
Malin suggested that pregnant women reduce their fluoride intake from water and certain types of tea. She also proposed policy discussions about mandating fluoride content on beverage labels.
If you’re curious about how much and what kind of fluoride your state puts in its water, this site has details.
Sources:
https://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/whatwestudy/assessments/noncancer/completed/fluoride
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2818858
https://www.cdc.gov/oral-health/prevention/about-fluoride.html
https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2019-03/documents/fluoride-risk-assess-factsheet.pdf
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6704756/#
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8700808/
https://fluoridealert.org/researchers/states/