4 ms·

Effect of fluoridated water on intelligence in 10-12-year-old school children

16 points by unobatbayar 3y ago

Finnucane 3y ago
I admit that I am not expert in statistics, but the data they present seem to suggest that the highest scoring test group was in the medium exposure group? Also, something is not right with graph 2?
- shaftway 3y ago
  I came here because of that. I suspect it's mislabeled, since it looks like it would match the numbers if the labels at the bottom went low, mid, high instead of low, high, mid. But even more than that, I think the numbers demonstrate that some fluoride is better than none. And the low groups average is likely skewed by a single outlier, way at the top of the graph. Poor study all around.
msteffen 3y ago
I used to worry a lot about the implications of studies like for people drinking fluoridated water, but at least in the SFBA, water is fluoridated to 0.7ppm, below the top threshold of the “low fluoride” group in this study
chronicsonic 3y ago
“Water was collected from initially identified endemic fluoride regions according to the geological research of Government of India. “ Wonder why those areas were so fluoride endemic? First thought is factory waste running off into rivers?
- opwieurposiu 3y ago
  In some areas fluoride is in the rocks and dissolves into the underground water. This is pumped up via wells. Surface water, AKA rivers, starts with low fluoride in the mountains and it slowly accumulates as it flows down to the sea. Surface water almost always has less fluoride then well water though.
- jfengel 3y ago
  Some places naturally have water high in fluoride, due to the nature of the rocks and the water table. That's how fluoride protection of teeth was discovered in the first place. People living in some parts of Colorado had mottled teeth from too much fluoride in the water. (It's now called "fluorosis".) Dentists noticed that such people also didn't get many cavities, and eventually tracked it to the composition of the water. Turns out you can add enough fluoride to protect teeth without causing stains. Some places have way too much fluoride in the water. The staining appears to be the only problem.
anonbanker 3y ago
Important to note that many municipalities in Canada use hydrofluorosalicic acid to "fluoridate" their water supplies. Far more dangerous a substance, and fully legal under the Supreme Court of Canada's redefining of what "fluoridation" means in this country.
alexfromapex 3y ago
I don’t see why it needs to be added to the water at all instead of only in toothpaste. I’d rather have lots of people with rotting teeth than lots of low IQ people. It really makes no sense why it’s been pushed so hard and mandated.

16 points by unobatbayar 3y ago

I admit that I am not expert in statistics, but the data they present seem to suggest that the highest scoring test group was in the medium exposure group? Also, something is not right with graph 2?

shaftway 3y ago
I came here because of that. I suspect it's mislabeled, since it looks like it would match the numbers if the labels at the bottom went low, mid, high instead of low, high, mid. But even more than that, I think the numbers demonstrate that some fluoride is better than none. And the low groups average is likely skewed by a single outlier, way at the top of the graph. Poor study all around.

msteffen 3y ago

I used to worry a lot about the implications of studies like for people drinking fluoridated water, but at least in the SFBA, water is fluoridated to 0.7ppm, below the top threshold of the “low fluoride” group in this study

chronicsonic 3y ago

“Water was collected from initially identified endemic fluoride regions according to the geological research of Government of India. “ Wonder why those areas were so fluoride endemic? First thought is factory waste running off into rivers?

opwieurposiu 3y ago
In some areas fluoride is in the rocks and dissolves into the underground water. This is pumped up via wells. Surface water, AKA rivers, starts with low fluoride in the mountains and it slowly accumulates as it flows down to the sea. Surface water almost always has less fluoride then well water though.
jfengel 3y ago
Some places naturally have water high in fluoride, due to the nature of the rocks and the water table. That's how fluoride protection of teeth was discovered in the first place. People living in some parts of Colorado had mottled teeth from too much fluoride in the water. (It's now called "fluorosis".) Dentists noticed that such people also didn't get many cavities, and eventually tracked it to the composition of the water. Turns out you can add enough fluoride to protect teeth without causing stains. Some places have way too much fluoride in the water. The staining appears to be the only problem.

anonbanker 3y ago

Important to note that many municipalities in Canada use hydrofluorosalicic acid to "fluoridate" their water supplies. Far more dangerous a substance, and fully legal under the Supreme Court of Canada's redefining of what "fluoridation" means in this country.

alexfromapex 3y ago

I don’t see why it needs to be added to the water at all instead of only in toothpaste. I’d rather have lots of people with rotting teeth than lots of low IQ people. It really makes no sense why it’s been pushed so hard and mandated.