The Neurotoxicity Of Fluoride In Drinking Water
Fluoride Exposure During
Pregnancy Links to Learning Disabilities,
Attention Deficit and Behavior Disorders
Preventive Psychiatry E-Newsletter #182 | March 28, 2005
Sodium Fluoride is
currently added to the majority of municipal water systems in the U.S. to
prevent cavities in children. Its use has risen rapidly since the 1950's. Sodium Fluoride is also registered with the EPA as a rat poison, although
advocates say its use in low levels in water poses no adverse health concerns.
There has been considerable research done on fluoride regarding cancer, birth
defects, and risks to the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and urinary systems,
however, very little has been done on its neurological effects.
First Study to Find
Neurological Deficits After Fluoride Exposure
Chinese investigations have shown levels of fluoride in drinking water at
levels of 3-11 ppm affect the nervous system without first causing physical
malformations. Another Chinese study found Attention Deficit Disorders in
adult humans if sublingual drops containing 100 ppm of sodium fluoride were
administered. Sources of fluoride exposure include processed beverages,
toothpastes, mouth rinses, dietary supplements and food. This is an exposure
level potentially relevant to humans because toothpastes contain 1000 to 1500
ppm fluoride and mouth rinses contain 230-900 ppm fluoride.
In the 1995 article appearing in the journal Neurotoxicology and Teratology,
Dr. Phyllis J Mullenix states,
"Still unexplored, however, is the possibility that fluoride exposure is
linked with subtle brain dysfunction. This is the first study to demonstrate
that central nervous system output is vulnerable to fluoride, that the effects
on behavior depend on the age at exposure and that fluoride accumulates in
brain tissues. Of course behaviors per se do not extrapolate, but a generic
behavioral pattern disruption as found in this rat study can be indicative of
potential for motor dysfunction, IQ deficits and/or learning disabilities in
humans. Substances that accumulate in brain tissue potentiate concerns about
neurotoxic risk."
Dr. Phyllis J. Mullenix
Toxicology Department, Forsyth Research Institute, Boston, MA
JOURNAL TITLE: Neurotoxicity of Sodium Fluoride in Rats
