This week, a federal report linked elevated fluoride levels in various countries with reduced IQs in children, contributing to the ongoing discussion regarding fluoride in public water systems.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ National Toxicity Program published this report, stating with “moderate confidence” that a range of international studies connected high fluoride exposure to decreased IQ in children. These studies covered populations from Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan, and Mexico.

The analysis looked at overall fluoride exposure, not just the health impacts of fluoridated drinking water. Experts anticipate this will reignite discussions among anti-fluoride advocates aiming to initiate local bans on public water fluoridation.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recognized public water fluoridation as one of the most significant public health advancements of the 20th Century. This practice, which includes adding controlled amounts of fluoride to drinking water to enhance dental health, is supported by both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics. They reference evidence indicating that fluoridated water can decrease tooth decay by 25% among both children and adults.

“Extensive research and real-world experience suggest that fluoride is safe and advantageous for oral health,” stated Linda Edgar, the president of the American Dental Association.

What is the Acceptable Fluoride Level?

The report indicated that water with fluoride content over 1.5 milligrams per liter is “consistently linked to lower IQ in children.” However, it did not specify how much IQ might be affected or whether adults could experience negative effects from high fluoride levels.

The U.S. Public Health Service recommends a fluoride concentration of 0.7 milligrams per liter in public drinking water. Conversely, the World Health Organization sets the maximum fluoride level in drinking water at 1.5 milligrams per liter.

Expert Opinions

Representatives from the ADA believe the majority of Americans need not be overly concerned by the findings of this study. Federal health organizations suggest that public water systems should maintain fluoride levels below half of the amounts linked to decreased IQ in children.

“For most people, there is no cause for alarm based on the outcomes of this review,” remarked Howard Pollick, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco.

However, Pollick, who specializes in fluoride for the ADA, expressed concern for a minority of Americans whose community water systems have excessively high fluoride levels.

As reported in 2020, approximately 1.9 million Americans sourced their drinking water from community systems with fluoride levels reaching at least 1.5 milligrams per liter, according to the CDC. Thus, the report implies that children from these areas may be at risk.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) advises families with young children to avoid drinking water from systems with fluoride levels above 2 milligrams per liter. This standard serves to protect against severe dental fluorosis, a condition that can damage or discolor teeth. Water providers are mandated to inform residents in areas where fluoride concentration exceeds this limit.

“The pressing question is if the EPA’s limit should perhaps be adjusted downwards to 1.5,” Pollick suggested.

Will This Prompt More Communities to Stop Using Fluoridated Water?

David Kennedy, a retired dentist and treasurer of the Preventative Dental Health Association, expressed that the report demonstrates that excessive fluoride can harm children’s development.

“Fluoride has no place in our food, water, or toothpaste,” Kennedy stated.

The Fluoride Action Network, an organization advocating for the cessation of water fluoridation, reported that the percentage of Americans receiving fluoridated water from community systems declined from 74.6% in 2012 to 72.7% in 2020. The network noted that from 2010 to 2020, over 1,400 communities ceased to incorporate fluoridation chemicals into their water supply.

Pollick is apprehensive that local government officials might experience increased pressure from residents regarding this issue. He emphasized that the report does not definitively establish a causal link between fluoride and lower IQ levels and noted that the authors had “moderate confidence” in their findings.

“Whenever a report like this surfaces, we recognize that it may raise concerns among people,” Pollick shared.