Controversies in Science/Water fluoridation/A Critique of Arsenic and Fluoride Exposure in Drinking Water: Children's IQ and Growth in Shanyin County, Shanxi Province, China

(Review Paper) Cited in Controversies in Science/Water fluoridation/A Critique of Arsenic and Fluoride Exposure in Drinking Water: Children's IQ and Growth in Shanyin County, Shanxi Province, China

A Decrease in IQ Levels

The children with high concentrations of fluoride and arsenic had their IQ levels decreased by 5 to 10 points when compared to those with low concentrations of fluoride and arsenic..

Methods

A study of 720 children was done with different amounts of arsenic and fluoride in the water. The controlled variable had small traces of fluoride which was in the drinking water and small amounts of arsenic, and the manipulated variable had small amounts of arsenic and large amounts of fluoride.

A table showed that people with high levels of fluoride had an IQ approximately 5 points lower then the control group because of developmental problems.

Another test was done on rats and was determined that fluoride is neurotic to rats, which prevented the proper development of the brains functions. The scientist discovered this threw the study of the rats synapses. It was compared to new born babies who's mothers were exposed to fluoride. The results showed that the babies had developmental issues with their nervous system and the muscles tension in the brain, similar to those of the rats. This establishing a connection between a children's IQ and the exposure to fluoride.

Results

The results did not show a significant decrease in IQ, however the control group was taller, weighed more, and had a larger lung capacity than the manipulated variable.

The results showed a decrease in IQ scores for the control group.