A new report from the National Toxicology Program concluded that higher levels of fluoride exposure are associated with lower IQ in children.
Nine things to know:
1. The report concluded there is "moderate confidence" in the scientific evidence showing an association between higher levels of fluoride and lower IQ in children, the NTP said.
2. The report is mostly based on epidemiology studies in non-U.S. countries where some pregnant women, infants and children received total fluoride exposure amounts higher than 1.5 mg fluoride per liter of drinking water, which is the current safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization.
3. The U.S. Public Health Service currently recommends 0.7 mg fluoride per liter of drinking water.
4. The NTP found no evidence that fluoride exposure had adverse effects on adult cognition.
5. The NTP said there was insufficient data to determine if the fluoride limit recommended for U.S. community water supplies has a negative effect on children’s IQ.
6. A corresponding report on children’s IQ was accepted by a scientific journal for publication later this year, the NTP said.
7. The NTP started reviewing previously published scientific literature on the association between fluoride exposure and neurodevelopment and cognition in 2016.
8. The report was reviewed by several scientific and federal agencies before being published.
9. The ADA called for revisions to the NTP's third draft of this report in 2023. The ADA's recommendations aimed to enhance the report’s scientific integrity, clarity, transparency and timeliness. The dental agency also noted that its revisions support the scientific literacy of the public and elected officials who oversee water fluoridation policies.