A controversial new study in a US medical journal could reignite debate over fluoride’s safety in water, linking higher exposure levels to lower IQ in children.
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Its release comes as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. His health secretary nominee, Robert F. Kennedy Jnr, is a vocal critic of fluoridated water, which currently serves over 200 million Americans, or nearly two-thirds of the population.
Researchers from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) reviewed 74 studies on fluoride exposure and children’s IQ conducted in 10 countries including Canada, China, and India.
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Now, the team led by Kyla Taylor told Agence France-Presse the new analysis found a “statistically significant association” between fluoride exposure and reduced IQ scores.