2025 Study Finds High Levels of Fluoride Exposure Lowers Children’s IQs

Study adds another chapter to national Fluoride debate

According to a study published in JAMA Pediatrics, a meta-analysis of 74 existing studies (none of which were conducted in the U.S.) was undertaken in order to explore levels of fluoride exposure in drinking water and their effect—if any—on IQ levels in children. It found a statistically significant association between higher fluoride exposure and lower children’s IQ scores.

Highlights of the study include:

• For fluoride levels measured in urine, lower IQ scores were observed at less than 4 mg/L of fluoride, less than 2 mg/L and less than 1.5 mg/L.
• For every 1 mg/L increase in urinary fluoride, there is a decrease of 1.63 IQ points in children.
• For fluoride levels measured in drinking water, lower IQ scores were observed at less than 4 mg/L, and less than 2 mg/L.

The study garnered headlines from mainstream media sources, including:

• NBC News: “New study raises more questions about fluoride in drinking water“

• CNN: “Children exposed to higher fluoride levels have lower IQs, a government study finds“
• U.S. News and World Report: “Heavy Fluoride Exposure May Decrease Children’s IQ Slightly, Study Suggests“

Fluoride in the U.S.

U.S. health officials began recommending that public drinking water supplies contain 0.7 to 1.2 mg/L of fluoride as early as 1945. Fluoride is often added to toothpaste and other oral care products to strengthen teeth and reduce cavities by slowing down the tooth demineralization process and reducing the growth of bacteria that can cause cavities, and is generally considered safe and effective by medical professionals when used for topical application as directed at the recommended amounts.

Recommended levels of fluoride in drinking water were lowered to .7 mg/L in 2015, in part to the popularity of and widespread use of fluoride-containing toothpastes and other oral care products. The EPA requires that water cannot have a fluoride level of more than 4 mg/L.

But now many are questioning: are those levels safe enough?

The Debate Becomes Mainstream

While few people on either side debate the safety of topical application of fluoride onto teeth via toothpastes or oral rinses, the primary question for health officials and consumers alike now is whether ingestion of fluoride in drinking water causes harm to the human body overall. Medical professionals have touted fluoride’s ability to reduce tooth decay for decades, while those opposed to fluoride claim that it contributes to a number of health issues, including a higher risk for cancer, diabetes and organ damage.

Recent scientific studies such as the one discussed above (and an increasingly vocal outcry from longtime fluoride opponents) have caught the attention of public health officials and political leaders at the national and local levels—causing them ask tougher questions about the safety of water fluoridation.

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump’s U.S. health secretary nominee, has indicated that Washington will advise public water systems to remove fluoride from their water.
• A growing number of U.S. cities (Portland, Oregon, Wichita, Kansas, and Albuquerque, New Mexico being among the largest, while others are much smaller) do not fluoridate their water. Durango, Colorado is among a number of communities exploring whether to discontinue the practice.
• In November, Florida’s surgeon general recommended that his state’s communities to stop adding fluoride to their public water supplies.

So as you can see, there is no “guaranteed to please everyone” solution regarding fluoride.

Fluoride is a Truly Personal Choice—That’s Why Berkey^® Systems Give You an Option Regarding Reduction of Fluoride in Your Drinking Water

Some Berkey^® Water Systems users are not concerned about fluoride in their drinking water or do not have fluoride added to the municipal water in their area or country. However, others believe exposure to fluoride in any way is a health hazard, and prefer to reduce the amount of fluoride in their water. That’s why we developed and offer the optional Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements that can be added to Berkey^® systems.

Berkey PF-2™ Fluoride and Arsenic Reduction Elements simply attach to the bottom of Black Berkey^® Elements and sit in the lower chamber of your Berkey^® system. Each pair can filter up to 1,000 gallons of water before replacement is recommended, depending on quality of influent water.