A new report has found that water fluoridation levels at the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended levels are linked to lower IQ in children. The report was conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), a division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The federal agency reviewed and analyzed previous studies before concluding that water with a fluoride level of 1.5 mg per liter is associated with lower IQ in children.

1.5 mg is the recommended level by the WHO, but the United States currently has a recommended level of 0.7 mg. The report stated that 0.6% of the U.S. population currently has drinking water fluoridated at 1.5 mg or greater, which equates to approximately 1.9 million people.

The report said that more research is needed to determine if lower levels of fluoride prevalence in drinking water cause any harm to the public. There was also no conclusion regarding potential harm to adults who are exposed to higher levels of fluoride in the drinking water. The Fluoride Action Network (FAN) is currently in a lawsuit against the EPA regarding the human toxicity of water fluoridation. According to the latest FAN press release, the federal judge is expected to issue a ruling soon. 

While some reports indicate that no scientific conclusions can be made regarding the potentially toxic effects of water fluoridated levels below 1.5 mg per liter, the NTP countered this assertion when a draft of the report was released in 2022. The NTP said, “Our assessment considers fluoride exposures from all sources, not just water…because fluoride is also found in certain foods, dental products, some pharmaceuticals, and other sources… Even in the optimally fluoridated cities…individual exposure levels…suggest widely varying total exposures from water combined with fluoride from other sources.”

The 2022 NTP statement added, “We have no basis on which to state that our findings are not relevant to some children or pregnant people in the United States. Several of the highest quality studies showing lower IQs in children were done in optimally fluoridated (0.7 mg/L) areas…many urinary fluoride measurements exceed those that would be expected from consuming water that contains fluoride at 1.5 mg/L.”

On an episode of The HighWire, Del Bigtree interviewed lawyer Michael Connett, who has been working the fluoride case against the EPA. Bigtree asked Connett why the U.S. started fluoridating the water in the first place. Connett explained that the aluminum, steel, and nuclear industries had fluoride as a waste product. It was causing pollution and was also a liability concern for the industries. He also explained how the sugar industry was involved as they wanted a solution to oral health that didn’t involve regulating the sugar industry.

“It’s a perfect storm of interest groups that stood to benefit from this program,” Connett said.

Grand Rapids, MI, was the first community to fluoridate the water in 1945. There were studies before that time that indicated the chemical was a neurotoxin was a serious concern. Despite that, many dentists were excited about the potential for helping reduce oral decay.

Connett added, “Even if you believe that fluoridated drinking water has benefits for teeth, the fact of the matter is when you’re pregnant and when a baby is less than six months old, there is no benefit whatsoever.”

During the trial, Michael Connett questioned Toxicologist Amanda Phelka of NSF International. He asked her, “Has NSF taken any steps to determine the potential for fluoridation chemicals to cause neurotoxic effects?” She said no. Connett asked, “Does NSF have any position on whether fluoridation chemicals can cause neurotoxic effects?” She responded, “Since we have not conducted our own risk assessment on the fluoridation chemicals, we do not have a position on whether they are able to cause neurotoxic effects.”

As the questioning continued, Phelka admitted that NSF has not done anything to determine a maximum level of fluoride exposure that would not cause neurotoxic effects in humans. She also said the NSF does not have a position on a daily dose that reduces or prevents the risks of neurotoxic effects from fluoride exposure.

NSF’s website states, “NSF/ANSI/CAN 60: Drinking Water Treatment Chemicals – Health Effects is a public health drinking water standard developed by NSF and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), first published in 1988. The U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency had requested the development of a standard under the Safe Drinking Water Act to establish minimum requirements to control potential adverse human health effects from products used for the treatment, storage, and distribution of drinking water.”

The HighWire has been reporting on the neurotoxic effects of fluoride for years. Bigtree interviewed investigative journalist Derrick Broze in February 2023 about the latest updates on the lawsuit and the NTP study. Assistant Secretary for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Rachel Levine reportedly blocked the release of the study. Levine was also involved in pressuring WPATH to remove age guidelines for gender-affirming care treatments.

The citizens of the U.S. continue to await the outcome of the trial in the aftermath of the NTP report release. It is unclear how the judge will rule in this case, but it could lead to the banning of water fluoridation in the U.S.