The Science Suddenly Discovers That “Excessive” Fluoride in Drinking Water Can Lower Kids’ IQs

No one could have predicted this.

Except every “conspiracy theorist.” Every conspiracy theorist said this.

But they are all kooks, so no one could have known that they were right about this.

Medical Xpress:

High levels of fluoride in drinking water may dim the intelligence of children, a new U.S. government report shows.

Based on an analysis of published research, the potentially controversial report marks the first time a federal agency has determined there is a link between drinking twice the recommended amount of fluoride and lower IQs in kids.

“Since 1945, the use of fluoride has been a successful public health initiative for reducing dental cavities and improving general oral health of adults and children,” the report stated.

“There is a concern, however, that some pregnant women and children may be getting more fluoride than they need because they now get fluoride from many sources, including treated public water, water-added foods and beverages, teas, toothpaste, floss and mouthwash, and the combined total intake of fluoride may exceed safe amounts.”

Importantly, “the determination about lower IQs in children was based primarily on epidemiology studies in non-U.S. countries such as Canada, China, India, Iran, Pakistan and Mexico where some pregnant women, infants and children received total fluoride exposure amounts higher than 1.5 mg fluoride/L of drinking water,” the report authors stated.

“The U.S. Public Health Service currently recommends 0.7 mg/L, and the World Health Organization has set a safe limit for fluoride in drinking water of 1.5 mg/L.”

One expert welcomed the findings.

“I think this [report] is crucial in our understanding” of this risk, Ashley Malin, a University of Florida researcher who recently published a study on the effect of higher fluoride levels in pregnant women on their children, told the Associated Press.

The report did not try to quantify exactly how many IQ points might be lost at different levels of fluoride exposure. But some of the studies reviewed in the report suggested IQ was 2 to 5 points lower in children who’d had higher exposures.

In 2015, U.S. officials lowered their recommendation for fluoride levels in drinking water to address a tooth condition called fluorosis, that can cause splotches on the teeth and was becoming more common in U.S. kids, the AP reported.

But more recent research has pointed to a different problem, suggesting a link between higher levels of fluoride and brain development. Studies in animals showed fluoride could impact cell function in brain regions responsible for learning, memory, executive function and behavior, the AP reported.

That was always known.

At least, Alex Jones knew it.

Alex Jones does believe in every conspiracy theory, some of which might be wrong. But the reality is, if you believe in every conspiracy theory, you are going to be right more often than the mainstream media.