Hundreds of Studies Indicating Health Damage from Fluoride Exposure
Updated: Dec 11, 2022
A compilation of known health effects and associated studies can be found at FluorideAlert.org
Fluoride exposure has been linked to health damage and to the exacerbation of underlying health conditions including: arthritis and joint pain, kidney dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, endocrine disruption, cardiovascular damage, softening and de-mineralizing of the bones (osteomalacia), increase in bone fractures, skeletal and dental fluorosis, neurotoxicity and cognitive effects, lowered IQ in children, gastrointestinal disorders, calcification of the pineal gland, diabetes and blood glucose regulation problems, cancer, oxidative stress, and male reproductive damage, among others.
It's important to note that there is no conclusive evidence of the universal safety of water fluoridation.
Fluoride accumulates in the body over time. This means that even tiny doses can accumulate and cause health damage over time, especially if people are exposed daily via fluoridated water. People with kidney or liver dysfunction or other detoxification problems are at an increased risk for toxic fluoride accumulation in the body.
People at greater risk of health damage from water fluoridation include:
- fetuses and babies
- children
- people with arthritis, joint problems, or skeletal or dental fluorosis
- people with thyroid dysfunction
- people with chemical sensitivities
- people who have been injured by fluorine-infused pharmaceuticals or have a family history of these types of injuries
- people with ADHD, autism, or other cognitive issues linked to chemical toxicity
- people with cognitive decline
- people with diabetes or blood sugar regulation problems
- people with sensitive kidneys or kidney dysfunction
- people with hindered detoxification
- people with a personal or family history of cardiovascular damage or disease
- people with a personal or family history of cancer
This is a sampling of studies and links showing health damage from fluoride exposure:
OVERVIEW OF TOXICITY
Fluoride in drinking water: a scientific review of EPA's standards (2006)
Link: https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/11571/chapter/1
NEUROTOXICITY, COGNITIVE EFFECTS, AND LOWERED IQ SCORES IN CHILDREN
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/studytracker/?effect=brain-2&sub=cellulartissue-damage&type=animals&start_year=&end_year=&fulltext=&fantranslation=
74 human studies linking fluoride exposure with reduced intelligence
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/studies/brain01/
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/studies/brain02_/
Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 6–12 Years of Age in Mexico
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5915186/
Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity (autism, ADHD, dyslexia, cognitive impairment)
Link: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(13)70278-3/fulltext
Developmental Fluoride Neurotoxicity: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3491930/
Fluoride exposure from infant formula and child IQ in a Canadian birth cohort
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019326145?via%3Dihub
Prenatal Fluoride Exposure and Cognitive Outcomes in Children at 4 and 6–12 Years of Age in Mexico
Link: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/ehp655
Association Between Maternal Fluoride Exposure During Pregnancy and IQ Scores in Offspring in Canada
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6704756/
Neurotoxicity of sodium fluoride in rats
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7760776/
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32865723/
"Excess fluoride intake has been linked with various pathological conditions. The objective of the present study was to understand the role of fluoride in neurotoxic, neuroinflammatory, and neurodegenerative changes in the brain tissue of Wistar rats."
Influence of chronic fluorosis on membrane lipids in rat brain
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9761592/
ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER (ADHD)
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019315971
Link: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-015-0003-1
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412018311814?via%253Dihub
ARTHRITIS, SKELETAL AND DENTAL FLUOROSIS, AND BONE DAMAGE
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/issues/health/arthritis/
Fluoride in Drinking Water: A Review on the Status and Stress Effects
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233357494_Fluoride_in_Drinking_Water_A_Review_on_the_Status_and_Stress_Effects
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34166938/
Skeletal fluorosis from brewed tea
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21593111/
What Is Your Guess? A Case of Thick but Brittle Bones and Instant Tea
Link: https://academic.oup.com/clinchem/article/56/6/1041/5622483
Fluoride-related bone disease associated with habitual tea consumption
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17550752/
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/bao-2003/
Fluoride in Drinking Water, Diet, and Urine in Relation to Bone Mineral Density and Fracture Incidence in Postmenopausal Women Link: https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/doi/10.1289/EHP7404
"Conclusion The risk of hip fractures was increased among Swedish women who had the highest levels of urine fluoride excretion and the highest estimated fluoride intake from beverages and food relative to women with the lowest levels of each exposure. Our findings, which are consistent with the effects of high fluoride exposures observed in RCTs (resulting in a denser but more fragile skeleton), suggest that long-term consumption of tap water with a fluoride concentration of 1mg/L, which is below the 1.5mg/L maximum concentration recommended by the WHO, may adversely affect bone health in postmenopausal women."
REPRODUCTIVE DAMAGE AND INFERTILITY
60+ animal studies linking fluoride exposure to male reproductive damage
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/studies/fertility02/
In vitro influence of sodium fluoride on ram semen quality and enzyme activities
Link: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/In-vitro-influence-of-sodium-fluoride-on-ram-semen-Zakrzewska-Uda%C5%82a/5ec7865f43a1e500e8a798d80b7633f32e9b9be2
Link: https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Toxic-effects-of-fluoride-on-reproductive-ability-Junling-Yingmei/568e3e54d6d332107090bfafa1eb7dad95056f26
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32984109/
"Conclusions: Excess fluoride exposures can have deleterious effects on the expecting mother and fetus and is associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes."
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35897326/
KIDNEY DISEASE AND DYSFUNCTION
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/issues/health/kidney/
Fluoride as a cause of kidney disease in humans
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/studies/kidney07/
Kidney damage in fluoride-exposed animals
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/studies/kidney08/
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35688217/
"Conclusions: Water fluoridation results in higher plasma fluoride levels in those with lower renal function. How routine water fluoridation may affect the many millions of Americans with Chronic Kidney Disease, who are particularly susceptible to heavy metal and mineral accumulation, needs to be further investigated."
Back pain in chronic renal failure
Link: https://academic.oup.com/ndt/article/21/8/2331/1820840
"Main sources of fluoride include food and water. About 50–70% of fluoride is excreted by the kidneys [1]. Individuals with kidney disease have decreased ability to excrete fluoride in urine and are at risk of developing fluorosis even at normal recommended limit of 0.7 to 1.2 mg/l (37–63 µmol/l) of fluoride in drinking water [2]."
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9800387/
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/5930763_Fluoridation_of_drinking_water_and_chronic_kidney_disease_Absence_of_evidence_is_not_evidence_of_absence
CARDIOVASCULAR DAMAGE
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/issues/health/cardio/
Drinking water fluoride and blood pressure? An environmental study
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21484404/
Association of vascular fluoride uptake with vascular calcification and coronary artery disease
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21946616/
Inflammatory responses induced by fluoride and arsenic at toxic concentration in rabbit aorta
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22422340/
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21342861/
Effects of sodium fluoride on the electrocardiogram of male rabbits
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235906983_Effects_of_sodium_fluoride_on_the_electrocardiogram_of_male_rabbits
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/26715181_Alterations_in_Electrocardiographic_Parameters_after_Subacute_Exposure_of_Fluoride_and_Ameliorative_Action_of_Aluminium_Sulphate_in_Goats
Effects of chronic fluorosis on electrocardiogram in sheep
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12746571/
Histopathology of myocardial damage in experimental fluorosis in rabbits
Link: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228361564_Histopathology_of_myocardial_damage_in_experimental_fluorosis_in_rabbits
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21976813/
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35168424/
INFLAMMATION
Link: https://ehjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12940-022-00911-6
"Conclusion: Our finding that neutrophils and monocytes are associated with higher plasma fluoride in U.S. children and adolescents is consistent with animal data showing fluoride related effects of increased inflammation. These findings suggest the importance of further studies to assess potential mechanisms that are involved in absorption and filtration of ingested fluoride, particularly in tissues and organs such as the small intestine, liver and kidney."
DIABETES AND IMPAIRED GLUCOSE REGULATION
Fluoride and impaired glucose tolerance
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/studies/diabetes01/
Inhibitory effect of fluoride on insulin receptor autophosphorylation and tyrosine kinase activity.
Link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1132568/
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8405753/
Topical fluorides: effects on physiologic and biochemical processes
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3475325/
Does Fluoridation Affect Diabetes Risk?
Link: https://www.dentalnewspk.com/08-Nov-2022/does-fluoridation-affect-diabetes-risk
"Fluoride has been found to raise blood sugar levels and reduce glucose tolerance, perhaps by preventing insulin generation or secretion. A dose of fluoride that can be attained in locations with "optimally" fluoridated water has been proven to cause impaired glucose tolerance in humans, which is frequently a precursor to type 2 diabetes. This intake ranges from 0.07 to 0.4 mg/kg/day. Therefore, current fluoride intake may cause or aggravate some types of diabetes."
THYROID DYSFUNCTION
Link: https://jech.bmj.com/content/69/7/619?sid=387994a1-4d28-493a-bef6-8fdf845ecbb0
Thyroid function, intelligence, and low-moderate fluoride exposure among Chinese school-age children
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31698198/
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25556215/
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7859263/
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30316182/
LIVER DAMAGE
Link: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.jafc.2c03049
"Fluoride-induced liver injury seriously endangers human and animal health and animal food safety, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study aims to explore the mechanism of miRNAs in fluoride-induced hepatic glycolipid metabolism disorders."
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS AND DISTRESS
Fluoride-induced gastric symptoms in human clinical trials
Link: https://fluoridealert.org/studies/gastric01/
Estrogen deficiency aggravates fluoride-induced small intestinal mucosa damage and junctional complexes proteins expression disorder in rats Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0147651322010211
"In particular, estrogen deficiency exacerbated F-induced enterotoxicity, which provides new explanations for the development and severity of intestinal disease in postmenopausal women with high-F areas."
PLANT AND SOIL DAMAGE
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35007676/
Higher fluoride levels in soil were associated with reduced plant height and number of leaves, particularly in early growth phases. There was also increased leaf injury, resulting in increased infestations of powdery mildew.
INCREASED LEAD LEVELS IN WATER
Effects of fluoridation and disinfection agent combinations on lead leaching from leaded-brass parts
Link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0161813X07001404
"This study concerns effects on water-borne lead from combinations of chlorine (CL) or chloramines (CA) with fluosilicic acid (FSA) or sodium fluoride (NaF). CL is known to corrode brass, releasing lead from plumbing devices...Over the first test week (after CL flushing concentrations were increased from 1.0 to 2.0 ppm) lead concentrations nearly doubled (from about 100 to nearly 200 ppb), but when FSA was also included, lead concentrations spiked to over 900 ppb. Lead concentrations from the CL-based waters appeared to be decreasing over the study period, while for the CA + NH3 + FSA combination, lead concentrations seemed to be increasing with time."
Elevated lead levels have been reported in children who drink fluoridated water. These findings have been repeated in studies on rats:
Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20188782/ "Higher blood lead (BPb) levels have been reported in children living in communities that receive fluoride-treated water. Here, we examined whether fluoride co-administered with lead increases BPb and lead concentrations in calcified tissues in Wistar rats exposed to this metal from the beginning of gestation...These findings show that fluoride consistently increases BPb and calcified tissues Pb concentrations in animals exposed to low levels of lead and suggest that a biological effect not yet recognized may underlie the epidemiological association between increased BPb lead levels in children living in water-fluoridated communities."
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