US government finally admits fluoride is a neurotoxin
Really big news on the topic of fluoride use here in the United States. Last week a 300 page report was published by the US’s National Toxicology Program, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, that concluded that there is a link between high-level fluoride exposure and lower IQ in children
Specifically, the report looked at worldwide research on the topic and concluded that “drinking water containing more than 1.5 milligrams of fluoride per liter is consistently associated with lower IQs in kids.”
How quickly can someone be exposed to 1.5 mg of fluoride per liter?
This is exceeded if they drink more than 1.0 L water containing 0.8 mg F/L and use a normal amount of regular fluoridated toothpaste. If they drink 1.5 L of water they go over the limit even without the toothpaste.
Those most vulnerable
Of particular concern is the link between these “higher levels” of fluoride and brain development on :
the developing fetus - since we know fluoride crosses the placenta- and
very young children who might ingest fluoride containing water with baby formula or when brushing teeth ( drinking more water and using fluorine based toothpaste).
In fact, the editors of JAMA Pediatrics have been recommending for a few years that pregnant women living in fluoridated communities should drink bottled water rather than the piped water with added fluoride.
While this is not NEW NEWS- as there has been a plethora of research worldwide ( over 400!) pointing to the neurotoxic effects of fluoride, it is
the first time a US federal agency has found that fluoride can indeed be neurotoxic.
The new paper stopped short of specifying how much fluoride can affect ( ie iq points lost) a child, but some of the international studies that were taken into account have found:
Canadian 2019 study. Found that pregnant women who drank more fluoridated water had children with lower intelligence scores at ages 3 and 4. An increase of a milligram of fluoride per day — the amount in about five cups of water — was linked to a loss of 3.7 IQ points for boys and girls.
Mexico 2017 Study: .In this study, higher prenatal fluoride exposure, was associated with lower scores on tests of cognitive function in the offspring at age 4 and 6–12 y.
27 Chinese Studies: while some of these studies have been criticized as flawed, they have all overwhelmingly shown lower IQs in children exposed to elevated amounts if fluoride – even small elevations that would be considered safe by the U.S. EPA.
Are you exposed to fluoride?
If you live in the US, you likely are:
Currently, in the US, 3/4 of Americans who use public water systems have fluoridated water.
The EPA has estimated that drinking water accounts for approximately 60% of American adults’ fluoride intake; tea, coffee, and other beverages make up about 20%; foods account for about 13%; and the rest comes from other sources, including dental products.
How to reduce fluoride levels?
drink filtered water: Fluoride is one of the MOST difficult chemicals to remove from the water supply due to it's negative charge and small molecular weight. As such, most filter systems cannot remove it to a high degree, or those that do (Reverse Osmosis & Distillation),or multi carbon ( 3 or more)
Reduce or avoid black TEA - esp while pregnant
Switch to fluoride free toothpaste
if pregnant or thinking of becoming pregnant its really important to avoid fluoride!
Sources
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db53.htm
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp.1104912
https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/opinions_layman/fluoridation/en/#4
https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP4903