Fluoride and Its Impact on Childhood IQ: A Government-Censored Truth?

Recent revelations regarding the U.S. government’s long-delayed release of documents on fluoride’s impact on childhood IQ have reignited debates about the safety of water fluoridation. For decades, fluoride has been promoted as a means to improve dental health, but growing evidence suggests it may have unintended neurological consequences, especially in children.

The NTP Review: A Major Turning Point

The National Toxicology Program (NTP) released a draft review in May 2022, confirming findings from earlier reviews conducted in 2019 and 2020. The review concluded that prenatal and early-life exposure to fluoride at high levels can significantly reduce IQ in children. This conclusion stems from multiple studies pointing to a consistent association between higher fluoride exposure and cognitive decline in children.

Despite the weight of these findings, the publication of the NTP monograph was delayed for years due to intervention by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Emails revealed during an ongoing lawsuit under the Toxic Substances Control Act showed that the CDC and HHS blocked the release of the NTP report, citing the need for additional reviews from higher-level agencies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The Science Behind the Claims

The NTP’s conclusions are not isolated. There are now more than 60 studies linking fluoride exposure to developmental neurotoxicity, including a reduction in IQ. These studies span multiple regions and populations, further reinforcing the consistency of the results. The 2022 NTP report specifically states that there is "moderate confidence" in the evidence linking fluoride exposure to lower IQ scores, but also calls for more research on the effects of lower levels of fluoride.

One of the most concerning aspects of this situation is the censorship and delays imposed on the release of these findings. Internal emails show that the NTP scientists were confident in their findings and ready to release the report in May 2022. However, CDC and HHS officials intervened, delaying the report due to concerns about its potential impact.

Corruption and Suppression of Science?

The ongoing lawsuit between the Fluoride Action Network (FAN) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) seeks to have fluoride classified as a neurotoxin and regulated under the Toxic Substances Control Act. The FAN’s legal challenge highlights the internal resistance faced by scientists at the NTP who have been trying to publish their findings.

Michael Connett, attorney representing FAN, noted that the NTP review has been subjected to an unprecedented five peer-review processes over four years. This level of scrutiny is highly unusual and has raised suspicions about the role of government interference in delaying the release of the report. Despite multiple peer-reviews, the NTP findings remain unpublished, leaving many to wonder why such critical health information continues to be withheld.

Global Rejection of Fluoridation

It is important to note that fluoride use in public water supplies is not a universal practice. In fact, 97% of Western Europe has rejected water fluoridation due to concerns about its safety and effectiveness. Countries like Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands have opted out of fluoridation programs, choosing instead to prioritize other methods of dental health management.

In contrast, about 70% of public water supplies in the U.S. remain fluoridated, despite mounting evidence that fluoride may pose a greater risk than previously acknowledged. The ongoing suppression of scientific findings by U.S. agencies has fueled further skepticism about the safety of this widespread practice.

What’s Next?

As more documents are revealed through lawsuits and public pressure, the full scope of fluoride’s impact on childhood IQ may finally come to light. For now, it’s clear that this issue is far from settled. The next hearing in the fluoride lawsuit is set for April 2023, where the future of water fluoridation in the U.S. could be significantly influenced.

The question remains: how much longer will critical health data be withheld from the public, and at what cost?

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References:

1. US Government Releases Censored Documents Detailing Fluoride's Impact on Childhood IQ, The Last American Vagabond, March 16, 2023.
   Full article online

2. Fluoride Action Network, Research on Fluoride and IQ.
   Fluoride & IQ: 76 Studies

3. National Toxicology Program, 2022 NTP Monograph on Fluoride and IQ.
   NTP Fluoride Review

4. Connett, M. (2022). Legal Statements on Fluoride and Cognitive Effects. Fluoride Action Network.
   FAN Resources