The program’s conclusion was based on research showing fluoride levels in drinking water that were roughly double the US approved limit.
“The evidence of an association between fluoride exposure below 1.5 mg/L and lower IQ in children appeared less consistent than results of studies at higher exposure levels,” the review added, noting that exposure levels at lower levels were less conclusive.
Higher amounts of fluoride exposure during pregnancy have also been linked in the past to IQ decreases in offspring.
According to a 2019 study on Canadian moms and kids, male IQ decreased by 4.5 points for every additional milligram per liter of fluoride in a mother’s urine.
The study did not investigate why boys were more significantly impacted or discover such a strong correlation in female children.
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Our understanding of fluoride’s effects on health
Fluoridating community water is a cost-effective strategy to enhance oral health among Americans, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Skeletal fluorosis, which is uncommon in the US and causes weaker bones and joint discomfort, can be brought on by years of exposure to fluoride levels beyond the public health advised level.
Dental fluorosis, a cosmetic condition caused by too much fluoride, can result in white dots or lines on the tooth’s outer enamel layer.
According to the American Cancer Society and the CDC, recent studies looking into the relationship between fluoride levels and cancer have not discovered any.
