A recent report from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) reveals that high levels of fluoride in drinking water, twice the recommended limit, are associated with lower IQ among children.
Fluoride in water lowers children’s IQ – Photo Archive
The addition of fluoride to drinking water was considered a major achievement in public health. However, a recent NIH report suggests that high levels of fluoride, twice the recommended limit, are linked to lower IQ in children. It is the first time a US federal agency has confirmed, with “moderate trust”that there is a link between high levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children.
The US government report found that fluoride in drinking water, at levels twice the recommended limit, is associated with lower IQ in children. Although it was not created exclusively to assess the health impact of fluoride, the report highlights a significant neurological risk related to high fluoride concentrations.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces the risk of cavities by replacing lost minerals. The addition of fluoride to drinking water at low levels was, for decades, considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.
“I think this report is key to understanding this risk,” said Ashley Malin, a researcher at the University of Florida who has studied the effects of high fluoride levels on children and pregnant women. She described the report as “the most rigorous report of its kind.”
The safe concentration of fluoride
The long-awaited report, released Wednesday by the Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicology Program, summarizes a review of studies conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico. It concludes that water with a fluoride content greater than 1.5 milligrams per liter is consistently associated with lower IQ in children.
While the report didn’t exactly quantify the drop in IQ by level of fluoride exposure, some studies reviewed suggest a 2- to 5-point reduction in IQ for children exposed to higher concentrations, according to The Independent.
As of 2015, health officials in the United States have recommended a fluoridation level of 0.7 milligrams per liter of water, after five decades the upper recommended range had been 1.2 milligrams.
The World Health Organization has set a safe limit of fluoride in drinking water at 1.5 milligrams per liter. The report indicates that about 0.6 percent of the United States population—that’s about 1.9 million Americans—have water with naturally occurring fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams or higher.
“The findings in this report raise questions about how these people can be protected“, said Malin.
Criticisms of the report
The 324-page report offered no conclusions about the risks associated with lower fluoride levels, stressing the need for further research. It also did not address the potential effects of high fluoride on adults.
The American Dental Association, which supports water fluoridation, criticized both previous versions and this new research. A spokeswoman noted that the organization’s experts are still in the process of analyzing the report.
Fluoride, a naturally occurring mineral found in water and soil, has been added to drinking water since 1945 to reduce tooth decay. Although initially effective, in 2015 officials lowered the recommended level of fluoride to prevent dental fluorosis.
The Environmental Protection Agency has imposed a limit of 4 milligrams per liter to avoid skeletal fluorosis. However, recent studies suggest that high levels of fluoride could affect brain development, with possible negative effects on babies and children.
In 2006, the National Research Council called for more studies on the impact of fluoride on intelligence. The National Toxicology Program began an extensive review of the research in 2016, but the final result has been delayed and contested.
“Because fluoride is such an important topic to the public and public health officials, it was imperative that we make every effort to obtain accurate scientific data.”, said Rick Woychik, director of the National Toxicology Program.
Ashley Malin suggests that pregnant women limit fluoride intake, including from water and specific teas. She also advocates the introduction of labels indicating the fluoride content of drinks.
Does the water in Romania contain fluoride?
According to information obtained by “The Truth”Romanian tap water does not contain fluoride. European Union regulations do not oblige member countries to add this natural mineral to drinking water.
Specifically, only a few European countries, including Great Britain and Ireland, add fluoride to tap water.
Even in bottled mineral waters this element cannot be added.
“In natural mineral water there is no added fluoride, by law they are not allowed to add anything. The label shows F-, the reduced form of fluorine. Fluorides are, like chlorides, part of nature, natural components of the soil, essential for the body. But it is not added additionally to any natural mineral water in Romania, this is guaranteed 100% by law. What the water contains is part of nature, practically reduced forms of fluorine are natural components of the soil.“, explained Claudia Benea, ambassador of the Natural Water Resources of Romania, specialist in hydration, for “truth“.
Most bottled flat mineral waters contain less than 0.1 mg of fluoride per liter, and Romanians get the fluoride they need for dental health from toothpaste.
