Fluoride Neurotoxicity

Fluoride Developmental Neurotoxicity

NEW STUDY FINDS PRENATAL FLUORIDE EXPOSURE LOWERS IQ IN CHILDREN. The first U.S. Government-funded study investigating prenatal neurological damage from fluoride, Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 6–12 Years of Age in Mexico, finds that each 0.5 part per million (ppm) increase in a pregnant woman’s urine fluoride levels reduced her child’s IQ by 2.5 – 3 points.

The full peer-reviewed study,  a 12 year analysis of data from 287 mother-child pairs, was published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives (9/19/2017), and can be downloaded at the U. S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) website: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/EHP655.alt_.pdf

The new study is unique in approach, size, and duration, but it joins over 50 other human-based studies finding evidence of fluoride-based cognitive damage affecting IQ.

Learn more about the new Prenatal Fluoride/IQ study.

FLUORIDE & IQ: THE 53 STUDIES:  “As of June 2018, a total of 60 studies have investigated the relationship between fluoride and human intelligence, and over 40 studies have investigated the relationship fluoride and learning/memory in animals. Of these investigations, 53 studies have found that elevated fluoride exposure is associated with reduced IQ in humans, while 45 animal studies have found that fluoride exposure impairs the learning and/or memory capacity of animals. . The human studies, which are based on IQ examinations of over 15,000 children, provide compelling evidence that fluoride exposure during the early years of life can damage a child’s developing brain.“ – From Fluoride Action Network, Fluoride & IQ: The 53 Studies

For an overview of the 53 studies by the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) staff, as well as the specifics of each study, together for the first time, read Fluoride & IQ: The 53 Studies.
EPA IDENTIFIES FLUORIDE AS A NEUROTOXICANT; SAFE DOSE, IF ANY, IS UNKNOWN. Approximately 100 developmental neurotoxicity test set chemicals have been  identified by US EPA. Of those chemicals, EPA has identified 22%, including fluoride, with both significant evidence of neurotoxicity in animal studies from multiple laboratories, and with significant documented human evidence of harm. Links to documentation under OTHER REFERENCES, below.
DENTAL FLUOROSIS IS CAUSED BY FLUORIDE EXPOSURE, MOSTLY FROM DRINKING FLUORIDATED WATER WHILE TEETH ARE FORMING. At least 41% of young teenagers (ages 12 to 15) in the U.S. have visible dental fluorosis (damaged enamel presenting as permanent white, yellow, or brown marks on teeth, with pitted and flaking enamel in severe cases).

DENTAL FLUOROSIS IS A MARKER FOR COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT. “Association of lifetime exposure to fluoride and cognitive functions in Chinese children: A pilot study“(Choi, et al. / Neurotoxicology and Teratology / Jan-Feb. 2015), reports the results of a simple, specific IQ test: the child’s ability to repeat a sequence of numbers both forwards and backwards. Subjects included children with lifetime exposures to fluoride levels overlapping the range of levels allowed in U.S. fluoridation programs. Even children with very mild dental fluorosis performed less well than children without fluorosis. 

STUDY FINDS A RELATION BETWEEN ADHD & DRINKING FLUORIDATED WATER. “Exposure to fluoridated water and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder prevalence among children and adolescents in the United States: an ecological association” by Christine Till and Ashley Malin (York University, Toronto / Environmental Health / February 27, 2015), the first study to systemically examine the relationship between a specific behavioral disorder and fluoridation found that U.S. States with higher rates of artificially fluoridated water had a higher prevalence of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Water fluoridation rates “significantly positively correlated with state prevalence of ADHD for all but one year examined.”

OTHER REFERENCES
“Expanding the test set: Chemicals with potential to disrupt mammalian brain development.” EPA Review article. Neurotoxicology and Teratology 52 (2015) 25 / William R. Mundy, et al. PDF.

“Building a Database of Developmental Neurotoxicants: Evidence from Human and Animal Studies.” EPA Chart (2014). W. Mundy, et al. Neurotoxicology and Teratology. PDF.

Both documents were approved by the National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory (NHEERL), a division of EPA.

“Nominations to the Report on Carcinogens and Office of Health Assessment and Translation; Request for Information. “ A Notice by the National Institutes of Health. Federal Register, The Daily Journal of the United States Government (10/07/2015).

“Concept: Proposed NTP Evaluation on Fluoride Exposure and Potential for Developmental Neurobehavioral Effects.” Presentation by Dr. Kristina Thayer, NIEHS/DNTP. NTP Webinar (December 2, 2015). Conference Agenda.

New Study Quantifies Fluoride’s Potential to Reduce IQ in Children
Petition to EPA on Fluoride Neurotoxicity
Contact Clean Water Sonoma-Marin
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