Fluoride in Water Could Be Lowering Our IQs: Study

Monday, 25 Aug 2014

Although the granite mountains of Maine may be spectacular, they may be hiding a secret that's affecting the IQs of residents: Fluoride leaches from the granite and drains into the private wells that provide drinking water for many of Maine's communities, leaving many with dangerously high levels, says an article in the Scientific American.

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Many Maine residents rely on well water that is neither tested nor regulated by the government, although residents are urged to have their water tested regularly. But recent studies show that some wells contain more than double the level of fluoride that the government considers the maximum level for safety.

Although small amounts of fluoride are added to public water supplies in many municipal water supplies in the United States to reduce tooth decay, too much fluoride can discolor teeth, weaken bones, and affect the brain — a 2012 review of 12 studies found that high fluoride reduced children's IQs by an average of 7 points.

To read the entire Scientific American article, go here.