In 2006, the US National Research Council (NRC) provided a much-needed wake up call with an excellent summary of the available literature on fluoride. According to the NRC, "it is apparent that fluorides have the ability to interfere with the functions of the brain."

In its review, the NRC examined the studies showing an association between fluoride and reduced IQ in children and concluded that "the consistency of the results appears significant enough to warrant additional research on the effects of fluoride on intelligence." Since the NRC review was released, 4 additional studies on fluoride and IQ have been published -- from Mexico, Iran, India, and China.

A Wealth of "New" Data

In addition, an investigation last year by Fluoride Action Network revealed that there are many important studies on fluoride and the brain which the NRC was unable to review because they have only been available in Chinese. To help get these studies in the hands of western scientists and government regulators, FAN paid to have them translated and has worked to get them published in an English-language journal.

We are extremely happy to announce, therefore, that 12 of these translations have just been published in the journal Fluoride (with more translations expected to be published in the coming months) -- marking the first time these studies (with one exception) have ever seen the light of day in an English-language journal.

The studies published this week - available online at http://www.fluorideresearch.org -- provide a wealth of additional data confirming fluoride's ability to damage brain development. As noted in an introduction by Dr. Albert W. Burgstahler, Editor of Fluoride, the studies "are of great importance worldwide for a fuller understanding of how fluoride can affect neurological development, function, and performance."

For example, a 1996 study by researchers at Guiyang Medical College (Yu 1996) details how fluoride exposure among pregnant mothers can disrupt the synthesis of neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain cells of the fetus. Such effects could lead to long-lasting defects in brain function after birth. (Click here to read this study)

Another study details how infants born to mothers with a history of high fluoride exposure exhibit differences in neuro-behavioral function shortly after birth, including delayed reaction to visual and auditory stimulus (Li 2004). According to the authors: "The present observations indicate that fluoride, as a toxic material to nerve development, can have an adverse impact on the neurobehavioral development of neonates." (Click here to read this study)

Other studies include five additional human studies showing a correlation between elevated fluoride intake and reduced intelligence in children (Li 2003; Hong 2001; Guo 1991; Chen 1991; Qin 1990), two animal studies finding that fluoride produces "considerable deterioration" in the learning and memory abilities of mice (Sun 2000; Zhang 1999); along with a study of fluoride-exposed workers finding a "cause-and-effect relationship between occupational fluoride exposure and neurobehavioral function", including "deficits in attention" and "auditory retention" (Guo 2001).
 
And it doesn't stop here. FAN is now working on getting an additional 7 Chinese studies published for the first time in English-language journals by the end of the year. These additional studies include two studies showing that fluoride can pass the placenta and damage the brain of the fetus, and 5 more studies finding a reduction in IQ among children exposed to excess fluoride.

New Review of Fluoride/IQ Studies

In addition to the studies published this week, I am happy to announce that a review co-authored by Michael Connett of FAN, was presented over the weekend at the conference of the International Association of Dental Research (IADR). The poster presentation, which Michael co-wrote with Dr. Hardy Limeback from the University of Toronto, examines the findings from all existing fluoride/IQ studies conducted worldwide, including all of the IQ studies accessed via FAN's extensive investigation last year (see abstract below). In all, the review identified 20 studies which have investigated the link between fluoride and IQ. Of these 20 studies, 18 found that high fluoride exposure was significantly correlated with reduced IQ. While there are some limitations and inconsistencies with this data, the fact that 18 of 20 studies found a correlation between fluoride and reduced IQ should raise a huge red flag about the purported safety of ingested fluorides.

At the very least, we hope the presentation will stimulate much greater attention to this issue among the pro-fluoride dental researchers who attended the conference.

Fortunately, there have been indications - following the NRC report -- that scientists in the US are beginning to take notice of the fluoride/IQ connection. Earlier this year, a panel of prominent child health experts issued a consensus statement on chemicals that may cause "neurodevelopmental disorders." Based on one of the fluoride/IQ studies, as well as fluoride's potential to impair thyroid function, the panel included fluoride as a chemical that may cause neurodevelopmental harm. Imagine, however, what the panel's conclusion would have been if they had considered the 17 other studies showing the same result!

Meanwhile, I can't help thinking about the "Got Teeth? Get Fluoride" slogan that many pro-fluoridation campaigners are using these days. Based on the evidence, the more fitting slogan would seem to be: "Got a Brain? Avoid Fluoride."