Drinking water with fluoride levels at twice the recommended limit could significantly impact the IQ levels in children, according to a US government report.
The US National Toxicology Program found that drinking water with fluoride levels exceeding 1.5 milligrams per liter has been associated with lower IQ in children, the report noted. That is well above the 0.7 milligrams per liter of water limit set by federal health officials in 2015. That being said, it is within the safe limit (0.15) set by the World Health Organization (WHO), per the Associated Press.
It was not immediately clear how many IQ points children could lose when exposed to varying levels of fluoride. However, some of the studies noted in the report suggested a loss of between two to five IQ points in children who had been exposed to high levels of fluoride.
Low IQ in Children Linked to High Levels of Flouride in Drinking Water
Apart from lower IQ in children, the report also found that approximately 0.6% of the US population, or roughly 1.9 million individuals, are currently being exposed to drinking water with fluoride levels of 1.5 milligrams per liter or more. The water comes from systems with naturally occurring fluoride levels exceeding the recommended limit.
The report did not include the potential risks of exposure to lower levels of fluoride, saying that further study is required. It is also unclear how high levels of fluoride affect adults.
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The report analyzed information from studies on the effect of fluoride on children conducted in Canada, China, India, Iran, Mexico, and Pakistan.
Other Studies on the Effects of Flouride in Children
The National Toxicology Program is not the first institution to analyze the effects of fluoride in children.
In May, a study published in JAMA Network Open linked greater fluoride intake by pregnant mothers to behavioral problems in toddlers. Specifically, the study found that children who were exposed to high fluoride levels while inside the womb were 83% more likely to experience temper tantrums, headaches, stomachaches, and symptoms related to autism.
The study did not find any correlation between fluoride exposure and "externalizing behaviors" in toddlers such as aggression and attention problems.
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