ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH NEWS– Chinese children drinking well water with very high levels of fluoride scored poorly on intelligence testing compared to those with lower exposures.

This is one of the first studies in humans to find that too much fluoride is associated with low performance on intelligence tests. More information is needed to ascertain if the sum total amount of ingested fluoride from tap water, consumer products and other sources are enough to inhibit brain development in children living in the US and other countries where fluoridation is common.

Fluoride is a recommended additive to public water supplies to promote healthy teeth. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that 66% of the US population receives fluoridated water through the taps in their homes. Fluoride combats tooth decay in two ways. It strengthens tooth enamel, and it allows teeth damaged by acid to repair, or remineralize, themselves.

Excessive fluoride intake can have negative consequences on bone, teeth and the brain. Too much of the ion can lead to skeletal fluorosis, a condition in which teeth have weak enamel and bones have poor mineralization. 

Continue reading about High Fluoride Levels in China Linked to Low Intelligence, Study Finds.

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