Fluoride Water Intake During Pregnancy Linked to Infant’s Lower IQ

Recent research highlighted that usage of fluoridated tap water during the gestation period links to lower IQ of the newly born child. The study suggests an adversary to the viewpoint linked to using the mineral in preventing tooth decays.

Although other researchers have shown concern regarding the methodology of the research and its conclusions. However, few of them have also taken a stance with the credibility of the research.  

Further, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in a list of top ten great public health achievements of the 20th Century had fluoridated water among it as the fortification of Fluoride has managed to pull out the US from tooth decay problem.  

The research published in the JAMA Paediatrics Journal examined figures obtained from 512 mother and child relations in about six cities of Canada. The sampled population had about 40 per cent of the population with supplied fluoridated municipal water.   

Speaking to the AFP, Christine Till, associate professor at Canada's York University and the paper's senior author said, “We realized that there were major questions about the safety of fluoride, especially for pregnant women and young children.” 

The researchers also found that post controlling other toxins, the increase of one milligram per litre of fluoride in pregnant mother’s urine decreases the IQ by 4.5 points in only boys at the age of three or four.  

Although the measurement of daily fluoride intake by mothers instead of urine discharge found drops the IQ by 3.5 points in both boys and girls.  

Also, health authorities based in Australian and Canada recommend a threshold of 0.7 milligrams per litre of fluoride in order to prevent fluorosis.  

High levels of fluoride have poised serious threats to even the rat’s brain under experimental conditions. Although experts say that the concentration of fluoride present in tap water is optimal for health but there’s has been another finding which suggests that it actually depends on the amount of water a person drinks.