The topic of fluoride in drinking water has sparked debate for years, leading to bans in several states recently.
Recent studies suggest this compound may severely impact brain cells and cognitive functions in both humans and animals.
“Structural damage to the central nervous system may occur.”
Brain Drain
Florida has joined Utah as the second state to ban fluoride, with plans to eliminate it from drinking water systems by 2025. If the latest studies on fluoridation are accurate, Governor Ron DeSantis might be ahead of his time.
Research has indicated that fluoride consumption can lead to cognitive decline. According to a study, both mice and human cells displayed structural damage to the central nervous system after fluoride exposure.
In this study, mice were exposed to fluoride over a span of five months through their drinking water, supplied as sodium fluoride. The mice in one group consumed water with 50 mg of sodium fluoride per liter, another group had 100 mg/liter, while a control group drank pure deionized water.
Mice that ingested fluoride exhibited reduced brain and body weight, along with diminished cognitive abilities compared to the control group.
As fluoride concentrations increased, so did the decrease in HT-22 mouse brain cells. This process also affected axons and dendrites, which are essential for communication within the nervous system.
Confused Rats
The team of scientists evaluated fluoride-induced neurotoxicity through a behavioral experiment called the “step-down test.”
In this test, a mouse was placed on a table, and a mild electric shock was applied to the surrounding floor. Researchers noted how often the mice jumped, indicating their learning and memory retention, or “avoidance memory,” as reported by PsyPost I wrote.
This evaluation revealed that mice exposed to fluoride performed worse in cognitive tasks. The middle-dose group made more mistakes than those given pure water, and the high-dose group fared even worse, although this wasn’t statistically significant compared to the middle-dose group.
Van Wagon
It’s worth noting that the research was entirely conducted by scientists in mainland China. However, debate over fluoridation isn’t confined to any specific political system.
When Florida officially banned the practice in 2025, at least five other states made similar moves during the same timeframe. A policy discussion is underway in states like Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Nebraska, and New Hampshire regarding the same issue.
Besides the two states that have enacted bans, nine other states have populations consuming less than 50% fluoridated water. According to CDC data, Oregon, New Jersey, and Hawaii show the lowest consumption rates, at 26%, 16%, and 8.5%, respectively.
The United States is one of the largest consumers of fluoridated water worldwide, ranking seventh in usage (73%). Countries like Malaysia, Australia, Gabon, and Brunei surpass it, while places like Singapore and Hong Kong report 100% fluoridation rates. Other Western nations with high usage include Ireland (73%), Israel (70%), New Zealand (61%), and Canada (44%). Notably, China has only about 15% fluoridation coverage.
