NASEM Reviews Recent Monograph on Fluoride Exposure

Today, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) held a peer review of a recently prepared draft monograph by the National Toxicology Program (NTP), which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, entitled “Systematic Review of Fluoride Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Cognitive Health Effects.” The monograph extends a previous 2016 review by adding human epidemiological studies and including new animal evidence to identify hazard conclusions associated with fluoride and neurodevelopmental effects.

The draft monograph found that fluoride can be presumed to be a cognitive neurodevelopmental hazard to humans. The study does note that these findings were based on higher levels of fluoride exposure, and when assessing studies with exposure levels similar to those found in drinking water in the United States (0.03 to 1.5 ppm), cognitive neurodevelopment effects are inconsistent. The finalization date of the draft monograph is not yet clear. For more information on this draft monograph or the peer review click here.