Drinking water and brushing teeth are daily activities performed without a second thought. However, for expectant mothers, these seemingly harmless actions could have unintended health consequences. New research suggests that children exposed to high levels of fluoride in utero may have lower intelligence.
Fluoride is a chemical compound often added to tap water and dental products (toothpastes, mouthwashes) because it prevents bacterial growth. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drinking fluoridated water can reduce dental disease in children and adults by approximately 25%.
However, further information indicates that fluoride is also harmful. Research published in 2014 demonstrated that exposing a fetal organism to fluoride is associated with subsequent impairment of cognitive abilities. Scientists from the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto in Canada recently announced their discovery in the scientific journal Environmental Health Perspectives.
The study involved 299 women and their children, each of whom had been exposed to fluoride. Urine samples were collected from each mother during pregnancy, and from their children aged 6 to 12, to determine the extent of fluoride exposure.
Each child's intelligence was assessed at ages 4, 6, and 12, comparing the results with the fluoride content in the children's urine. It was found that fluoride affects the nervous system of fetuses – women who had higher levels of fluoride in their urine during pregnancy were more likely to give birth to children with lower intelligence.
The scientists state, based on their findings, that fetal exposure to fluoride may have a negative impact on neural development, reducing intelligence.
