A newly published Californian study has reported an association between fluoride exposure during pregnancy and poorer gross motor development in infants, adding to the growing body of research examining fluoride’s potential effects on early neurodevelopment.
Action group Fluoride Free NZ described how researchers tracked mothers’ total fluoride exposure during the third trimester of pregnancy and compared it with their children’s developmental progress at six, nine, 12 and 18 months. The study found a statistically significant association with reduced gross motor skills, including milestones such as rolling, sitting, crawling and walking. While no statistically significant links were identified for fine motor skills, communication, problem-solving or social development, the researchers said the results for fine motor and problem-solving abilities suggested a possible underlying pattern that warrants further investigation.
The authors said a key strength of the research was its prospective cohort design and its focus on measuring total fluoride exposure during late pregnancy, a period considered critical for brain development. They argued this approach provides a more accurate assessment than relying solely on fluoride concentrations in public drinking water, as overall exposure can also come from sources such as tea, seafood and some medications. The findings were said to align with previous studies from Canada, the United States and Mexico that have also examined total fluoride intake during pregnancy.
The study’s publication comes amid ongoing debate over water fluoridation and its health impacts. Critics of ecological studies, including a recently funded New Zealand project, argue such research is less capable of detecting potential associations because it does not account for individual fluoride exposure levels or the timing of exposure during pregnancy. The Californian researchers concluded that their findings, together with earlier studies, suggest fluoride exposure during gestation “may interfere with neurodevelopmental processes across multiple domains” even at relatively low exposure levels.
Image credit: Swanky Fella
I recall Luxon refused to remove fluoride from local council supply. Well well well, its election time again Luxon. Time for you take your medicine. Even if Luxon retains power, the margins will be thin. He will be rolled by his own party.