this post was submitted on 22 Aug 2024
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A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children.

The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined — “with moderate confidence” — that there is a link between higher levels of fluoride exposure and lower IQ in kids. While the report was not designed to evaluate the health effects of fluoride in drinking water alone, it is a striking acknowledgment of a potential neurological risk from high levels of fluoride.

Fluoride strengthens teeth and reduces cavities by replacing minerals lost during normal wear and tear, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The addition of low levels of fluoride to drinking water has long been considered one of the greatest public health achievements of the last century.

“I think this (report) is crucial in our understanding” of this risk, said Ashley Malin, a University of Florida researcher who has studied the affect of higher fluoride levels in pregnant women on their children. She called it the most rigorously conducted report of its kind.

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[–] Spitzspot@lemmings.world 141 points 2 years ago (1 children)

It's almost like "the dose makes the poison".

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[–] apfelwoiSchoppen@lemmy.world 120 points 2 years ago (38 children)

Levels at twice the limit do bad things? Who would have thought.

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[–] ikidd@lemmy.world 83 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Maybe that's why there's a limit that's lower than the danger point?

[–] IamSparticles@lemmy.zip 44 points 2 years ago (1 children)

And also why water fluoridation is done at a level far below the limit. Lots of things that are good for you at one dosage level are bad for you at a much higher dosage level.

[–] towerful@programming.dev 17 points 2 years ago

Including, funnily enough, water!

[–] TommySoda@lemmy.world 29 points 2 years ago (6 children)

Fluoride is naturally in the water in my area. Most toothpaste also has fluoride added into it. Guess I'm destined to be a lemon. Just don't taste me after brushing.

[–] jlh@lemmy.jlh.name 23 points 2 years ago

Fluoride is naturally in most water sources. As long as your water is within limits, you're fine using fluoride toothpaste.

[–] Dearth@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago (1 children)

You're not eating your toothpaste are you?

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[–] Fedizen@lemmy.world 29 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I don't think this is conclusive without either a mechanism or an analysis that definitively shows there's no other water contaminants in these poorly regulated areas

[–] Kbobabob@lemmy.world 25 points 2 years ago

Considering they specifically say "with moderate confidence" I don't think they think it's conclusive either

[–] paddirn@lemmy.world 28 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Next thing they’re gonna say is drinking too much water can kill you… /s

[–] wabafee@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)

We call that drowning, I think.

[–] paddirn@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (2 children)

There actually is a thing called water intoxication where if you drink too much water, it can kill you. I only heard about it years ago when a lady, Jennifer Strange, died after doing a radio contest, “Hold your wee for a Wii” where she must’ve drank way too much water. Her husband later sued the radio station and won compensation. She drank two gallons of water in ~3 hours.

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[–] DirigibleProtein@aussie.zone 7 points 2 years ago (1 children)
[–] SnotFlickerman@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 2 years ago (3 children)

General Jack D. Ripper : Mandrake, do you realize that in addition to fluoridating water, why, there are studies underway to fluoridate salt, flour, fruit juices, soup, sugar, milk... ice cream. Ice cream, Mandrake, children's ice cream.

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake : [very nervous] Lord, Jack.

General Jack D. Ripper : You know when fluoridation first began?

Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake : I... no, no. I don't, Jack.

General Jack D. Ripper : Nineteen hundred and forty-six. 1946, Mandrake. How does that coincide with your post-war Commie conspiracy, huh? It's incredibly obvious, isn't it? A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works.


Welp. Truth is stranger than fiction, they say.

[–] MelodiousFunk@slrpnk.net 6 points 2 years ago

I've been meaning to re-watch this for years. Brilliant movie.

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[–] TBi@lemmy.world 20 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I once had an argument over someone who was anti fluoride. They said it makes you dumb. But they have also in the past commented that I was smart, so I said imagine how smart I’d be without fluoride? They don’t have a comeback for that one.

Also too much oxygen (twice the limit) will also cause you harm and possibly kill you, do we ban oxygen?

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[–] NadiaNadine@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago (1 children)

While contact with teeth may be beneficial, there is no reason to ingest flouride. There is also no reason to wash your hair with flouride and water your plants and lawn with flouride.

If you want to supplement for children, have swish packets at school. The money could be better spent for the desired outcome.

[–] r0ertel@lemmy.world 12 points 2 years ago (1 children)

This used to be common in "the olden days" in rural America. I remembered the school nurse would hand out the fluoride rinse to students who's families signed up for it. I remember thonking that they were all the rich kids who's families could afford the $5/year for their fancy oral hygiene. Well who's laughing now? I've got the most expensive teeth after all my fillings, crowns, root canals and dental surgeries!

Yeah, i'm leaving all the grammatical errors in there; it better illustrates my point.

[–] RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world 7 points 2 years ago

Yep. Grew up in the unincorporated area of my town and had well water.

Also have plenty of dental work today.

It was obvious enough that the hygenist even asked if I’d grown up with well water.

[–] dhork@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

A foreign substance is introduced into our precious bodily fluids without the knowledge of the individual. Certainly without any choice. That's the way your hard-core Commie works.

-- Gen. Jack D. Ripper

Damn, beat me by about a minute!

[–] iiGxC@slrpnk.net 14 points 2 years ago

strong teeth 💪🦷🦷🦷 dumb brain 🧠😵‍💫

[–] Bosht@lemmy.world 13 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Is there even a reason the levels are that high to begin with? Does it have something to do with regular treated water vs water from a water treatment plant althat recycles wastewater? Or is this just dumb government?

[–] Longpork3@lemmy.nz 17 points 2 years ago (5 children)

Fluorides, like all trace elements, naturally occur in many water sources. The reason water flouridation caught on initially was because of the strong correlation between locations with water supplies naturally high in fluoride and better dental health.

[–] addie@feddit.uk 9 points 2 years ago

Indeed. Here in the UK, people can request that their water company should add it in if their water supply is low-fluoride, for instance from a reservoir, and the water company must add it in.

Back when I used to work in water, that was always the stuff that gave me nightmares. Concentrated hexafluorosilicic acid is what we'd use for dosing. We'd test all the equipment in the chemical room on plain water, drain it out and then literally brick up the doorway. Site would be evacuated during delivery - delivery guy would connect everything up in a space suit, hop in the shower afterwards. Lasted for ages and ages, since you only need the tiniest drip in the water supply to get what you need, but the tiniest drip on your skin would be enough to kill you as well; its lethal dosage is horrifically small.

Made working with all the other halides much less of a concern - we use shed loads of chlorine, but that stuff is much much less nasty in comparison.

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[–] jlh@lemmy.jlh.name 13 points 2 years ago

Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral in water. Wells tend to have varying amounts of fluoride, while lakes have almost no fluoride. This is basically due to unsafe/untreated wells being used for drinking water.

[–] Zier@fedia.io 7 points 2 years ago

Now we know where MAGA comes from.

[–] AI_toothbrush@lemmy.zip 5 points 2 years ago

Very cool picture btw

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@midwest.social 4 points 2 years ago
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