Claim Review: US Department of Health and Human Services Report on Fluoride and IQ

The claim that the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report confirms fluoride exposure is associated with lower IQ in children has been circulating widely. This claim is based on a report by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), which was delayed and finally released in August 2024. The report presents a comprehensive evaluation of the scientific evidence associating fluoride exposure with cognitive and neurodevelopmental health effects.

The NTP report found that 72 studies examined the association between fluoride exposure and IQ in children, with 64 showing an inverse relationship. This means that higher fluoride exposure was linked to lower IQ scores. Even at lower concentrations, fluoride exposure was associated with lower IQ. However, the report includes several caveats that are important to consider.

Firstly, the report mentions 'higher estimated fluoride exposures,' which are at drinking water fluoride concentrations that exceed the World Health Organization Guidelines for Drinking-water Quality of 1.5 mg/L of fluoride. The NTP scientists call for more studies to fully understand the potential for lower fluoride exposure to affect children's IQ. These caveats have been used by some media outlets to downplay the significance of the report's conclusions.

Despite these caveats, the NTP scientists make it clear that their conclusions apply to the US population. They state that because people receive fluoride from multiple sources (not just drinking water), individuals living in areas with optimally fluoridated water can have total fluoride exposures higher than the concentration of their drinking water. Additionally, there are people living in the United States who live in areas with naturally occurring fluoride in drinking water that is higher than 1.5 mg/L.

The release of the NTP report coincides with an ongoing legal battle between the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Fluoride Action Network (FAN). The lawsuit began following the EPA's 2016 decision to deny the plaintiff's petition under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). FAN is attempting to prove that fluoride is a neurotoxin and should be regulated or banned under the TSCA.

Emails released as part of the lawsuit reveal that various elements of the US government appear to have been involved in a concerted effort to block the release of the NTP draft report. The emails show that NTP scientists believed their work was completed and set a date for May 2022 for publication. However, leadership at the top levels of the Department of Health and Human Services intervened to stop the report from being released.

In conclusion, the claim that the US Department of Health and Human Services report confirms fluoride exposure is associated with lower IQ in children is partially true. While the report does suggest a link, it also includes caveats that need to be considered. The report calls for more studies to fully understand the potential for lower fluoride exposure to affect children's IQ. Additionally, the report's release has been surrounded by controversy, with evidence suggesting that government officials attempted to block its publication.

For more information, you can refer to the following studies:

• Fluoride exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis
• Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring in Canada

These studies provide a more detailed analysis of the association between fluoride exposure and neurodevelopmental outcomes in children.