Public Health and Fluoridation

A long-term U.S. cohort study published recently found no difference in measured IQ between people who grew up with community water fluoridation and those who did not, addressing longstanding public concerns about whether the practice harms cognitive development. The research follows participants across decades and, after adjusting for socioeconomic and other factors, reports no association between routine U.S.-level fluoride in drinking water and lower IQ. The finding comes amid renewed attention to fluoridation as communities weigh both health and supply considerations.