Fact Check:

Social media users are claiming that a Harvard study found that fluoride significantly lowers children’s IQ. One user wrote “Harvard Study Confirms Fluoride ‘Significantly Lowers’ Children’s IQ” and linked to an article.

The linked article reads, “A Harvard University meta-analysis funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that children who live in locations with highly fluoridated water have “significantly lower” IQ scores than those who live in low fluoride areas.”

The claim is misleading. The linked article references a 2006 Harvard study that found that children that live in areas with highly fluoridated water had lower IQ points than children that lived in areas with less fluoridated water. The study did not conclude that fluoride lowers children’s IQ. (RELATED: Did Ayanna Presley Say ‘IQ Is A Measure Of Whiteness?’)

In 2012, Harvard published another study titled “Impact of fluoride on neurological development in children.” This study also found a correlation between fluoride and lower IQ points. The study did not, however, conclude that fluoride causes a decrease in IQ points.

“In conclusion, our results support the possibility of adverse effects of fluoride exposures on children’s neurodevelopment,” The study’s discussion reads,

In 2015, Harvard School of Dental Medicine assistant professor Dr. Brittany Seymour uploaded a video addressing the claim that fluoride lowers children’s IQ. In the video, Dr. Seymour states, “Recent claims such as this one that fluoride lowers IQ have been circulating online often citing what have become known as the Harvard studies. These claims are incorrect.”

No credible sources have reported on studies that prove fluoride exposure causes children’s IQ to decrease. The National Institute of Health has confirmed that there is only a correlation between fluoride exposure and lower IQ.

Check Your Fact has reached out to Dr. Seymour and Harvard University for comment.