The fluoride in your drinking water could lower your children's intelligence quotient, a new study found.
The study published in JAMA Pediatrics this week found a significant link between fluoride exposure and children’s IQ scores. The systematic review examined 74 cross-sectional studies from 10 countries, revealing that higher fluoride exposure is associated with lower cognitive performance in children.
The research showed that the inverse relationship persisted even at fluoride concentrations below 4 milligrams per liter (mg/L) and 2 mg/L in water. However, when exposure levels were restricted to below 1.5 mg/L, the association was no longer statistically significant.
In the U.S., the recommended fluoride concentration in drinking water is 0.7 mg/L, or about 3 drops of water in a 55-gallon barrel, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention noted. The U.S. was not included in the research.
An analysis of 13 studies included in the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' research also found that an increase of 1mg/L fluoride in urine--a way to measure fluoride exposure from all sources--may lead to a decrease of 1.63 points in kids' IQ scores.
While widely used in community water supplies to prevent tooth decay, children may be exposed to other sources of fluoride. Toothpaste, mouthwash, and some foods contain the mineral. In adults, black tea and coffee are sources of fluoride, the New York Times noted.
The findings of the study add to the growing debate over whether higher fluoride levels pose a risk to children’s cognitive development.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President-elect Donald Trump's nominee for Health and Human Services secretary, has been a vocal critic of fluoridated water, arguing that it poses potential health risks, including an alleged impact on children’s cognitive development.
In 2020, about 73% of the U.S. population received drinking water with fluoride.
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