Pien Huang

Yep, we're talking fluoride, which is a topic that NPR has covered in drinking water around the U.S. for literally decades. Hmm. Fluoride is a very common mineral that occurs naturally in almost all soil, in water, even in many rocks.

Yep, we're talking fluoride, which is a topic that NPR has covered in drinking water around the U.S. for literally decades. Hmm. Fluoride is a very common mineral that occurs naturally in almost all soil, in water, even in many rocks.

And most people in the U.S. get fluoridated drinking water. It's added to the water to prevent tooth decay and cavities. The current U.S. Public Health Service recommendation is 0.7 parts per million optimally, which is three drops in a 55-gallon barrel.

And most people in the U.S. get fluoridated drinking water. It's added to the water to prevent tooth decay and cavities. The current U.S. Public Health Service recommendation is 0.7 parts per million optimally, which is three drops in a 55-gallon barrel.

And most people in the U.S. get fluoridated drinking water. It's added to the water to prevent tooth decay and cavities. The current U.S. Public Health Service recommendation is 0.7 parts per million optimally, which is three drops in a 55-gallon barrel.

Right, Emily. And it used to be a range, but in 2015, it was revised down to the standard minimum, 0.7 parts per million, because there were concerns that at levels higher than that, it could be causing dental fluorosis, which is, you know, streaking or mottling on kids' teeth.

Right, Emily. And it used to be a range, but in 2015, it was revised down to the standard minimum, 0.7 parts per million, because there were concerns that at levels higher than that, it could be causing dental fluorosis, which is, you know, streaking or mottling on kids' teeth.

Right, Emily. And it used to be a range, but in 2015, it was revised down to the standard minimum, 0.7 parts per million, because there were concerns that at levels higher than that, it could be causing dental fluorosis, which is, you know, streaking or mottling on kids' teeth.

And it still is, Emily, but a debate is evolving over whether the risks and the benefits of fluoride have changed. So back in August 2024, part of the National Institutes of Health called the National Toxicology Program released a big report. It was over 300 pages long, and it linked high levels of fluoride exposure with a slight decline in children's IQ.

And it still is, Emily, but a debate is evolving over whether the risks and the benefits of fluoride have changed. So back in August 2024, part of the National Institutes of Health called the National Toxicology Program released a big report. It was over 300 pages long, and it linked high levels of fluoride exposure with a slight decline in children's IQ.

And it still is, Emily, but a debate is evolving over whether the risks and the benefits of fluoride have changed. So back in August 2024, part of the National Institutes of Health called the National Toxicology Program released a big report. It was over 300 pages long, and it linked high levels of fluoride exposure with a slight decline in children's IQ.

At the time, I spoke with Ashley Mullen, who's an outside researcher...

At the time, I spoke with Ashley Mullen, who's an outside researcher...

At the time, I spoke with Ashley Mullen, who's an outside researcher...

And there were experts, especially within the dental community, that raised concerns about the report immediately. I mean, they were worried that people would misconstrue it to mean that any fluoridation in drinking water is a problem. when the amount of fluoride being discussed was twice what's added to the public drinking water.

And there were experts, especially within the dental community, that raised concerns about the report immediately. I mean, they were worried that people would misconstrue it to mean that any fluoridation in drinking water is a problem. when the amount of fluoride being discussed was twice what's added to the public drinking water.

And there were experts, especially within the dental community, that raised concerns about the report immediately. I mean, they were worried that people would misconstrue it to mean that any fluoridation in drinking water is a problem. when the amount of fluoride being discussed was twice what's added to the public drinking water.

Yeah, yeah. So it gave us some more details about how they'd done their research for this analysis. They had looked at dozens of studies, mostly from China and India. And they use this to conclude that some babies and kids exposed to high levels of fluoride may experience some amount of neurodevelopmental harm.

Yeah, yeah. So it gave us some more details about how they'd done their research for this analysis. They had looked at dozens of studies, mostly from China and India. And they use this to conclude that some babies and kids exposed to high levels of fluoride may experience some amount of neurodevelopmental harm.

Yeah, yeah. So it gave us some more details about how they'd done their research for this analysis. They had looked at dozens of studies, mostly from China and India. And they use this to conclude that some babies and kids exposed to high levels of fluoride may experience some amount of neurodevelopmental harm.