It's Official: Drinking Fluoridated Water Lowers IQ

[DeSwiss]

[font size=3]Harvard Study Finds Fluoride Lowers IQ - Published in Federal Gov't Journal[/font]

Tue Jul 24, 2012 8:45am EDT
PR Newswire

NEW YORK, July 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Harvard University researchers' review of fluoride/brain studies concludes "our results support the possibility of adverse effects of fluoride exposures on children's neurodevelopment." It was published online July 20 in Environmental Health Perspectives, a US National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences' journal (1), reports the NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. (NYSCOF)

"The children in high fluoride areas had significantly lower IQ than those who lived in low fluoride areas," write Choi et al. Further, the EPA says fluoride is a chemical "with substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity." Fluoride (fluosilicic acid) is added to US water supplies at approximately 1 part per million attempting to reduce tooth decay.

Water was the only fluoride source in the studies reviewed and was based on high water fluoride levels. However, they point out research by Ding (2011) suggested that low water fluoride levels had significant negative associations with children's intelligence.

Choi et al. write, "Although fluoride may cause neurotoxicity in animal models and acute fluoride poisoning causes neurotoxicity in adults, very little is known of its effects on children's neurodevelopment. They recommend more brain/fluoride research on children and at individual-level doses.

"It's senseless to keep subjecting our children to this ongoing fluoridation experiment to satisfy the political agenda of special-interest groups," says attorney Paul Beeber, NYSCOF President. "Even if fluoridation reduced cavities, is tooth health more important than brain health? It's time to put politics aside and stop artificial fluoridation everywhere," says Beeber.

Article link: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/24/idUS127920+24-Jul-2012+PRN20120724

Study Abstract:



[font size=3]Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis[/font]

Anna L. Choi, Guifan Sun, Ying Zhang, Philippe Grandjean

Background: Although fluoride may cause neurotoxicity in animal models and acute fluoride poisoning causes neurotoxicity in adults, very little is known of its effects on children’s neurodevelopment.

Objective: We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published studies to investigate the effects of increased fluoride exposure and delayed neurobehavioral development.

Methods: We searched the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Water Resources Abstracts, and TOXNET databases through 2011 for eligible studies. We also searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, as many studies on fluoride neurotoxicity have been published in Chinese journals only. In total, we identified 27 eligible epidemiological studies with high and reference exposures, endpoints of IQ scores or related cognitive function measures with means and variances for the two exposure groups. We estimated the standardized mean difference (SMD) between exposed and reference groups across all studies using random effects models. We conducted sensitivity analyses restricted to studies using the same outcome assessment and having drinking water fluoride as the only exposure. Cochran test for heterogeneity between studies, Begg’s funnel plot and Egger test to assess publication bias were performed. Meta-regressions to explore sources of variation in mean differences among the studies were conducted.

Results: The standardized weighted mean difference in IQ score between exposed and reference populations was -0.45 (95% CI -0.56 to -0.35) using a random-effects model. Thus, children in high fluoride areas had significantly lower IQ scores than those who lived in low fluoride areas. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses also indicated inverse associations, although the substantial heterogeneity did not appear to decrease.

Conclusions: The results support the possibility of an adverse effect of high fluoride exposure on children’s neurodevelopment. Future research should include detailed individual-level information on prenatal exposure, neurobehavioral performance, and covariates for adjustment.

Citation: Choi AL, Sun G, Zhang Y, Grandjean P 2012. Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Environ Health Perspect :-. http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104912

Received: 30 December 2011; Accepted: 20 July 2012; Online: 20 July 2012


Article link: http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action;jsessionid=5C98A897B69464FD44D98698EE9FC4A1?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1104912

See also:

Major Harvard Study Published in Federal Govt Journal Confirms Fluoride Lowers IQ
http://naturalsociety.com/harvard-study-published-federal-govt-journal-confirms-fluoride-lowers-iq/

EPA Database of Developmental Neurotoxicants
http://www.epa.gov/ncct/toxcast/files/summit/48P%20Mundy%20TDAS.pdf

- How many scientific studies does it take to unscrew this lightbulb?!?!?!?!

[bbernardini]

1. Alex Jones' head may explode with delight over this news. nt

[Igel]

56. I'm okay with that.

Delight. Rage. Constipation.

As long as it explodes.

[midnight]

2. Fluoride is also a key dumbing down ingredient of Prozac and Sarin nerve gas.

Fluoride has been historically used as a tool to oppress populations and was highly regulated. But because modern industry wants to make $$$, they have forced the idea that it is "good" for our teeth and it has poisoned a good portion of society.
http://current.com/community/90543303_fluoride-used-by-nazis-to-sterilize-inmates-and-make-them-docile.htm

[DeSwiss]

29. Exactly.

And after sufficient fluoride exposure, The Dunning Kruger Effect takes over from there.....

[Confusious]

54. You never took chemistry did you?

You must be ready to explode any minute now since you have so much sodium in your body from salt.

[midnight]

69. I did.... But those S P orbitals about did me in...

[Confusious]

70. then you must know

that if it's in a compound, it doesn't have the same effect as an elemental state.

So something that has Fluorine in it is not necessarily poisonous.

[Historic NY]

71. That link is bad, current packed it bags...

[jberryhill]

3. In answer to your "How many studies?" question

The actual study, as you quote above, says further study would be needed.

The first thing you linked is a press release from "NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.", which has no association with the study.

The actual study says "support the possibility". The press release translates that into "confirms".

Those are two different things.

[DeSwiss]

4. The question was rhetorical but thanks for your input. n/t

[jberryhill]

6. The distortion is also rhetorical

[DeSwiss]

13. But the EPA's science is not. n/t

[midnight]

12. My opinion about this particular case is "further studies" is code for stonewalling the truth...

"Revelation of study failures by a whistleblower led to major changes in U.S. law and regulation on the protection of participants in clinical studies. Now studies require informed consent (with exceptions possible for U.S. Federal agencies which can be kept secret by Executive Order),[2] communication of diagnosis, and accurate reporting of test results.[3]"



https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuskegee_syphilis_experiment


Now think about those scientist last month who were spied on via FDA for doing their jobs...

The FDA accused scientists of collaborating with opponents, including 21 agency employees, Congressional officials, outside medical researchers and journalists who were identified as putting out “defamatory” information about the FDA.
The FDA has defended their Natazi like surveillance as being a small operation limited to only 5 scientists who leaked information regarding the safety and design of certain medical devices.
The FDA has a policy of approving medical devices and drug therapies on the sole basis of research studies conducted by the pharmaceutical corporations without conducting independent research into the validity of the submitted studies. http://theintelhub.com/2012/07/17/fda-spied-on-whistleblowers-with-big-brother-surveillance-software/

[SidDithers]

17. More articles from Susanne Posel at theintelhub...

The Muslim Brotherhood and Obama Administration Serve the Global Elite

The Assault on 2nd Amendment Precursor to Martial Law in America

James Holmes: Government Patsy Assisting Obama in Disarming Americans

The Globalist Infiltration: Obama, Israel and the Muslim Brotherhood

Gates Funded Solar Geoengineering Causing Global Warming Effects

Pro-Israeli Lobby in Washington Ensures America Does Israel’s Bidding


Why are you bringing that kind of source to DU?

Sid

[midnight]

60. Sorry this link congers up so many objections for you.But before I suggest you review another link.

Perhaps you might want to reveal your own opinion... Is it that you don't believe only five scientist at the FDA were spyed on? Maybe you believe it's worse? There are other source to this story too... http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/fda-insists-spied-scientists/story?id=16808223#.UBheOI69wUU

[SidDithers]

64. Whatever. You shot your credibility with Susanne Posel...

If there were other sources to the story, why did you decide to bring the rantings of a right-wing conspiracist to us?

Sid

[The Doctor.]

39. Right, because if there's only a *chance* that we're harming children,

That's not reason enough to stop doing what we're doing.

[jberryhill]

41. Trading a known benefit for an unknown chance?

[DeSwiss]

49. Nope....

...it's trading the drinking and ingesting of a known neurotoxin -- for not drinking and ingesting a known neurotoxin.

EPA: ''Fluoride is a chemical with substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.''
http://www.epa.gov/ncct/toxcast/files/summit/48P%20Mundy%20TDAS.pdf

Harvard Study: ''The children in high fluoride areas had significantly lower IQ than those who lived in low fluoride areas.''
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action;jsessionid=5C98A897B69464FD44D98698EE9FC4A1?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1104912

- Kay?

[Igel]

58. There are lots of things that may hurt children.

The vast majority turn out not to.

[SidDithers]

5. No, it's not...

And, as is typical with the health woo community, groups with an agenda - like the NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc. and a woo site like naturalsociety - sieze on preliminary findings and misrepresent them to fit whatever their belief is.

Water fluoridation, along with vaccination, are two of the most successful public health initiatives in history.

Sid

[DeSwiss]

14. Yeah, I've always thought.....

...that fluoride was just wonderful! I love the pungent odor when I sprinkle all over my ice cream!!!

- Too bad the EPA thinks it's a crappy-ass neurotoxicant, huh?

http://www.epa.gov/ncct/toxcast/files/summit/48P%20Mundy%20TDAS.pdf

[SidDithers]

23. And the CDC thinks it is "Single most effective public health measure to prevent tooth decay"...

http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/publications/library/pressreleases/wf_lacking.htm

As always, it's the dose that makes the poison. But you won't hear that from the wackos at NYS Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation, Inc.

Sid

[DeSwiss]

33. So the CDC says its GREAT!

And the EPA and Havard says it's shit.

- I'll go with the latter.

[jberryhill]

34. But neither EPA nor Harvard actually say that

[DeSwiss]

37. Sorry.

The EPA ACTUALLY says: ''Fluoride is a chemical with substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.''
http://www.epa.gov/ncct/toxcast/files/summit/48P%20Mundy%20TDAS.pdf

And the Harvard study ACTUALLY says: ''The children in high fluoride areas had significantly lower IQ than those who lived in low fluoride areas.''
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action;jsessionid=5C98A897B69464FD44D98698EE9FC4A1?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1104912

- Better?

[jberryhill]

42. You should make commercials for the Romney campaign

Yes, the EPA says it is a chemical with substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity. Table salt will also kill you if you eat it by the spoonful. That EPA statement, ripped from context, does not address the level used in drinking water.

And yes, the Harvard study ACTUALLY says that sentence, along with this, "The results support the possibility of an adverse effect of high fluoride exposure on children’s neurodevelopment. Future research should include detailed individual-level information on prenatal exposure, neurobehavioral performance, and covariates for adjustment."

The Harvard Study is a preliminary result. Are the authors of that study saying it needs to be taken out of drinking water?

Are they?

No, they aren't.

Why do you suppose that you know more than the people who actually conducted the study you are quoting?

[DeSwiss]

50. No, I prefer facts.

Rmoney doesn't and besides he's an idiot. I don't deal with idiots. Not for long anyway. Oddly, I've noticed that with all your statements in this thread thusfar, you have yet to address the veracity of the Harvard study nor the EPA's designation of fluoride as a neurotoxin. Is that because you can't?

- Obfuscation. Avoidance. Total ignoring and avoidance of dealing with the facts. Hmmm... to me, it appears that it's you who is more in-line with getting a job working for Rmoney. Not me......

[jberryhill]

53. I addressed both of those things

The Harvard study is a preliminary result which itself states needs further analysis, and yes, of course, fluoride is a poison, as are many things.

What are the authors of the Harvard study saying about their study, as opposed to a press release by an advocacy group?

Will you answer that question?

[Igel]

59. So is the level of F ions in US drinking water like that of the high F areas?

Or the low F areas?

Or intermediate?

The paper says that's crucial.

(I'd also be happier if one crucial paper wasn't also looking at the incidence of As in the water, and if more were available in English and not Chinese. F occurs naturally, kids' IQs vary in ways that don't necessarily correlate with just fluoridation levels.)

[redqueen]

7. This guy is lying though, right?

http://www.democracynow.org/2004/6/17/the_fluoride_deception_how_a_nuclear

The Fluoride Deception: How a Nuclear Waste Byproduct Made Its Way Into the Nation’s Drinking Water

Journalist Christopher Bryson claims in his new book "The Fluoride Deception" that the post-war campaign to fluoridate drinking water was less a public health innovation than a public relations ploy sponsored by industrial users of fluoride–including the government’s nuclear weapons program.[includes transcript]

Hailed as a harmless chemical that would prevent tooth decay, new evidence shows how fluoride could be linked to serious health problems.

Fluoridation was first advanced in the US at the end of the second World War. Proponents argued that fluoride in water and toothpaste would help to protect teeth and prevent decay. Over the following decades, fluoride was added to public water supplies across the country.

While the benefits of fluoridation have been held to be unquestionable, accumulating evidence points to a frightening prospect: that fluoride may have serious adverse health effects, including infant mortality, congenital defects and IQ.

...

[DeSwiss]

27. I know, I know.

For some people, to hell with all those facts!!!! I've got my meme and I'm sticking to it!!!!

[SidDithers]

36. Most ironic post in the thread...nt

Sid

[DeSwiss]

40. Oddly, some can describe irony.....

...without even knowing they are being ironic themselves.

''Fluoride is a chemical with substantial evidence of developmental neurotoxicity.''
http://www.epa.gov/ncct/toxcast/files/summit/48P%20Mundy%20TDAS.pdf

''The children in high fluoride areas had significantly lower IQ than those who lived in low fluoride areas.''
http://ehp03.niehs.nih.gov/article/fetchArticle.action;jsessionid=5C98A897B69464FD44D98698EE9FC4A1?articleURI=info%3Adoi%2F10.1289%2Fehp.1104912

- Likewise, some can recognize facts, but only when they support their own preconceived points of view......

[cthulu2016]

8. Is "official" the new word for Possible?

[DeSwiss]

20. Nuh-uh.....

...official is the new word for fluoride is a neurotoxicant to humans. But by all means feel perfectly free to drink your neurotoxins with reckless abandon!!!!

- Remember, it may make you dumber or dead but you'll have fewer cavities!!!! Maybe.

http://www.epa.gov/ncct/toxcast/files/summit/48P%20Mundy%20TDAS.pdf

[slampoet]

9. This does explain the City of Grand Rapids Michigan.

The first to fluoridate.

Full of colleges and yet dumb as shit

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. What's the level of fluoride in those high fluoride areas studied?

How does it compare with the levels in water it's been added to?

[Odin2005]

11. Oh noes, our precious bodily fluids!!!

[FSogol]

24. You beat me to it!

"A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works."

[HappyMe]

35. I blame the aliens!

[Johonny]

63. You mean you don't trust results from Chinese journals

Read the review all the sky is falling results come from China (actually some Chinese results show no affect, some inverse effect), The two from these hemisphere are from Mexico.

Their results

An inverse association between F (in urine and in drinking water) and performance, verbal, and full IQ scores

Urinary F correlated positively with reaction time and inversely with visuospatial scores; IQ scores not influenced by fluoride exposure.

It is not very convincing...

[Swede]

15. This looks like a job for.........

[HappyMe]

16. lol! Mr. Woo himself!

[progressivebydesign]

18. Ummm. we grew up with fluoridated water. My IQ is 150.

And all of my friends have gone on to extremely high level positions that require intelligence.

Wow.. had we not had fluoride, I could have been a regular Einstein.

[JoePhilly]

28. I think ... "regular Einstein" ... is an oxymoron.

But my IQ, when last measured, was only 145. So I could be wrong.

[Ter]

19. I knew this for years

Let's pray it doesn't get moved to the dungeon.

[DeSwiss]

22. Well if it is.....

...then all EPA and NIH sanctioned studies should follow them.

- And I'll be right behind them......

[Glassunion]

21. But my toofs ar purlee wite

[MorningGlow]

25. Our pediatricians' yearly checkup includes a questionnaire

about the child's health habits. One question is "Is your water fluoridated? Yes/No." I always circle yes, but never tell them we don't drink the shit.

Fluoride has long been known to destroy thyroid function--already a problem in my family. Like I'm going to subject my son to extra toxins with our family history. Fluoride rinse and fluoridated toothpaste is enough, thank you.

[qb]

26. So.... this guy only looks dumb?

[SidDithers]

30. Ten Great Public Health Achievements -- United States, 1900-1999...

Vaccination

Motor-vehicle safety

Safer workplaces

Control of infectious diseases

Decline in deaths from coronary heart disease and stroke

Safer and healthier foods

Healthier mothers and babies

Family planning

Fluoridation of drinking water

Recognition of tobacco use as a health hazard

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00056796.htm

Sid

[DeSwiss]

48. Like you say: ''Ligthten up Francis.''

You know, right just before the time when began putting fluoride in our water, people also once exposed their bodies to high levels of radioactivity so they could be fitted perfectly for shoes.



Later science found this practice to be deleterious and they stopped it.

They also once gave the opium-containing preparations like laudanum and paregoric to colicky children. Even morphine, cocaine, and heroin were seen as miracle cures.



But they stopped doing that too, once later and better science proved that practice to be worse than what it was designed to treat.


- This study and the EPA's pronouncement on the toxic effects of fluoride upon humans, is what later and better science looks like. Don't be afraid of change and enlightenment......

[jeff47]

68. So we never use x-rays anymore, right?

Oh wait...it turns out that dosage is important and we still use X-Rays, and limit dosage.

And opiates are never, ever given to children anymore. Oh wait, they still are. They're just given with....wait for it...a limited dosage.

Yes, fluoride is toxic in high concentrations, as the EPA says. So's water. So clearly we need to ban water since it's highly toxic....or perhaps the dosage is actually important.

[HereSince1628]

31. Well, they got in the essential narrative for science--They recommend more research

I've been working on a project looking at characteristics of bio-speak as a constructed language.

One of the most commonly repeated memes in reports of finding is the call for further research.

If I were still advising students on how to write a scientific paper, I'd tell them to include some form of that statement as they bring their conclusions to a close.

[DeSwiss]

44. By all means....

...they should do more research. Having said that however, once any substance being put in the public drinking water as a so-called ''preventative healthcare measure'' -- is later found to be a neurotoxin -- one which has been shown to cause a reduction in IQ levels in children, then I'd say the burden of proof of fluoride's efficacy and value as a public health benefit, is in severe doubt.

- And that the default should be to place the health of braincells over cavities......

[HereSince1628]

47. It's standard bio-speak, and I think science writers/editors expect to include it

in the articles that they write.

When it comes to knowing, in an ideological sense, there is never enough.

[Confusious]

57. One study says "there's a possibility"

Thousands of other that say it's safe.

the case is closed! Fluoride is a demon that must be excised!

You can always tell a woo. Thousands of studies say no, one study say yes, the one study is right and the rest are shit or conspiracies to hide the truth.

I wouldn't be surprised if after further sturdy, they retract their findings. it's happened before. A study a few years ago about fluoride was retracted, it was from Harvard also.

Must have been a conspiracy.

[closeupready]

32. Circumcision, however, prevents this side effect.

Or so I've heard.

[Taverner]

38. Wasn't this the John Birch Society's big fear?

[arely staircase]

43. ever seen a commie drink a glas of water?

[ananda]

45. So does this explain Florida and Texas?

Just wondrin

[DeSwiss]

52. The correlation between.....

...IQ scores and use of fluoride would be an obvious next study.

- Then again, we are talking about Florida and Texas.....

[RebelOne]

55. Could be. I grew up in Florida.

My IQ must be below the moron level. But my daughter who also grew up in South Florida is now working on her master's degree. So I guess the fluoride did not affect her,

[Trillo]

51. Fluoride lobotomies?

On wide swaths of the population? Then, study its effects? There's a name for that.

[Zalatix]

61. I think EVERYONE HERE knows Harvard is a breeding ground for tinfoil hat crackpots.

[slackmaster]

62. Please make me a drink of grain alcohol and rain water, and help yourself to whatever you want

[jeff47]

65. We need much better science education in our country

If we did, this post full of errors wouldn't have been made.

[SidDithers]

66. But Harvard!!! And the EPA!!!...

You're right, of course.

Sid

[apples and oranges]

67. Yellow teeth vs. intelligence