A new federal report reveals hundreds of thousands of American children may suffer lowered IQ levels due to high fluoride in tap water. The National Toxicology Program (NTP), part of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), published the 324-page report, finding consuming water with fluoride levels exceeding 1.5 milligrams per liter can impact brain development.
The report draws on previously published research and concludes that high fluoride levels can lead to IQ drops of up to five points. It also suggests that fluoride could cause anxiety, temper issues, and headaches in children as young as three. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) data, over 1.9 million people in the U.S. depend on water systems where fluoride levels surpass 1.5 milligrams per liter.
Historically, fluoride has been added to the U.S. water supply to reduce cavities and strengthen teeth. However, the new findings will raise concerns in states like Illinois, Texas, and New Mexico, where water fluoride levels are notably high, that the risks of fluoridation outweigh any benefits.
Guidelines set out by U.S. authorities in 2015 recommend that fluoride levels in drinking water should not exceed 0.7 milligrams per liter—significantly lower than the 1.5 milligram safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO).
According to the anti-fluoridation advocacy group Fluoride Action Network, over 240 communities globally have ceased water fluoridation since 2010. The new report may encourage more to follow their example.